For several weeks, Palestinians have been urged by Israel to flee to the southern parts of Gaza while the Israeli military carried out its ground offensive mainly against the northern parts. The Israeli military has designated an area in southwest Gaza as a so-called humanitarian zone, which according to Israel should be safe. Many Gazans have gone there – after leaving their homes since the war broke out.
Youssef Ruzzi, photographer from Gaza, has visited the zone on behalf of SVT and people tell him that it is very crowded and a difficult existence in the area. Israeli bombings are also said to have taken place only 500 meters from the area.
– I am in the so-called safe zone. Honestly, it is not very safe, says Youssef Ruzzi, who has worked with SVT several times before, including during the Gaza war in 2021.
Pulled out from the racial masses
The zone is a strip of land that is approximately 8.5 square kilometers in size and consists mainly of sand dunes and former agricultural land.
– Our house in northern Gaza was bombed. We were pulled out of the racial masses, says Khaleda Murad, who sought shelter in the camp with her family.
She says that there is a shortage of most things – toilets, food and water are missing.
– I feed the children once a day.