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Israeli strikes have killed at least 35 Palestinians since dawn, with authorities reporting over 70 civilians dead in the past 24 hours - many of them in the so-called humanitarian so-called "safe zone" of al-Mawasi.

As Israel continues to strike the region, Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq released a damning new report accusing Israel of using evacuation orders as part of its "genocidal campaign" in Gaza.

The report, entitled 'How to HideÌýaÌýGenocide: The Role of Evacuation Orders and Safe Zones in Israel's Genocidal Campaign in Gaza'Ìýshines a light on the growing evidence of Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians under the guise of security measures and humanitarian concerns.

Around 83 percent of the enclave has been marked unsafe for civilians after falling under intense destruction and devoid of basic humanitarian resources

"With insufficient space, shelter, sanitation facilities, food, or water sources, and medical care, these safe zones are intentionally designed to ensure the destruction of all life sheltering there," the report claimed.

The organisation pointed out that rather than providing refuge, these zones concentrate displaced Palestinians into confined, densely populated areas, which are then subjected to continuous bombardment.

The report branded the move as "a slow-motion massacre" carried out under the guise of self-defence. "The so-called safe zones are nothing more than traps set by Israeli forces," says Al-Haq’s report. "The very language used to describe these areas is a weapon in itself."

Evacuation orders and forcible transfer

Human rights campaigners have also condemned Israel’s widespread evacuation orders issued across Gaza, compelling over 1.9 million Palestinians to move from their homes to areas designated by Israel as "safe zones".

Al-Haq argues that this mass displacement constitutes a war crime under international law, specifically the crime of forcible transfer. The report notes that these orders have been imposed with no legal basis, forcing civilians into areas that are less than 20 percent of Gaza’s total landmass.

"The mass evacuation orders are part of a deliberate strategy to create conditions of life so harsh that they are meant to result in the extermination of Palestinians in Gaza," the report explains. "Rather than providing safety, Israel’s evacuation orders serve as a prelude to mass death."

Drawing on the definitions outlined in the UN Genocide Convention, Al-Haq argues that Israel’s targeting of Palestinian civilians and its creation of conditions deliberately designed to destroy the Palestinian population meets the criteria for genocide.

Campaigners claimed these actions include the mass killing of civilians, inflicting serious bodily and mental harm, and creating conditions of life that are calculated to lead to the destruction of Palestinians in Gaza.

The report quotes a chilling statement from an unnamed Israeli military officer, who reportedly said: "We are not trying to just kill the Hamas leadership, we are targeting the entire Gaza population."

As global calls for accountability continue to grow among human rights organisations, Israel faces charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

"These actions are not merely military operations but an orchestrated campaign to eliminate a people," the report said, adding the Israeli military was "actively working to make Gaza uninhabitable, both in physical and psychological terms".

"The widespread bombardment of civilian areas, combined with the systematic destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, is evidence of Israel’s intent to eradicate Palestinians from Gaza."