Palestinians are being caged, corralled, and shoved towards the coastline with nowhere to run. This is not humanitarian aid - it is forced internment, and the international community must not continue to ignore such blatant war crimes.
Israel has used mass displacement orders and relentless military assault to systematically force civilians into five restricted zones that now make up less than 20 percent of Gaza. Combined with deliberate starvation, this reveals a strategy not of targeting militants, but of dismantling and erasing Gaza itself, Oxfam warned today.
A new Oxfam analysis found that since breaking the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has issued over 30 forced displacement orders, covering a swathe of 68 out of 79 neighbourhoods. These, together with the expanding “no-go” Israeli military zones, make up over 80 percent of the Gaza Strip.
The cumulative effect is the de facto confinement of the starving population into overcrowded enclaves. The sheer scale and relentless frequency of these orders have made it virtually impossible for people to find refuge. The pattern suggests not an effort to neutralise a threat, but a deliberate campaign to dismantle and depopulate Gaza.
“Israel’s plan to confine civilians in militarised ‘humanitarian’ zones under armed guard, while displacing hundreds of thousands through relentless bombardment, is a grotesque violation of humanitarian principles. In any other conflict, civilians have a route to safety. Palestinians are being caged, corralled, and shoved towards the coastline with nowhere to run. This is not humanitarian aid - it is forced internment, and the international community must not continue to ignore such blatant war crimes.
“In just one week, over 160,000 people were uprooted from their homes—part of a staggering 600,000 forcibly displaced since March. This is a deliberate strategy. Ireland has its role to play – the Occupied Territories Bill, despite only affecting the West Bank – needs to include a ban on the trading of services as well as goods. Other nations are watching the progression of this legislation, and we must do it justice. Irish MEPs must continue to push for the suspension, not simply a review, of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We commend our Irish parliamentarians for fighting for justice – but actions mean everything at this crucial moment in time for the survival of Palestinian people.”
— Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland CEO
“Imagine trying to move with four children or an elderly parent in the middle of the night, with no transport and nowhere to go. People are so exhausted, many would rather face death than flee again.”
— Fidaa Alaraj, Oxfam’s Gender Advisor in Gaza, who has been displaced with her family several times
Please see Oxfam’s video visualising the pattern of Israel’s displacement orders HERE.
Oxfam analysed all evacuation orders issued by Israel in Gaza between 18 March and 26 May 2025, which totalled 31 orders, averaging one order every 2.3 days. On several days, Israel issued multiple orders within 24 hours.
According to UNOCHA, all 25 municipalities across the five governorates of Gaza are affected—either partially or entirely—by displacement orders or militarized zones. Only 11 neighborhoods out of 79 within these governorates, have not been under orders.
To evaluate the scope and timing of Israel evacuation orders in Gaza, Oxfam has relied on a number of sources, including the UNOCHA website and the official Israel COGAT GAT FB page. According to OCHA’s displacement orders website, since 18 March 2025, 81% of the Gaza Strip is under evacuation orders or military zones.
Approximately 81% of the Gaza Strip (365 sq km) is currently either under displacement orders or classified as a militarized zone. This means only 19% (around 70 sq km) of Gaza remains outside of these two categories, as illustrated in this UNOCHA’s map.
Data on 20 May 2025 evacuation order from Joint Humanitarian Operation Centre (JHOC) Update #6 (20 May,2025).
Between 20 May 13:00pm -21 May 13:00pm 2025, an estimated 22,548 individuals were displaced. The total estimated number of people displaced since 15 May is 161,506, and the estimated number of people displaced since 18 March is 599,104 people. Source: The Site Management Cluster Update (15-21May 2025).
Al-Mawasi has an area of approximately 41sq km (15.83sq miles) which lacks critical infrastructure and services, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).Sep 10, 2024.
Under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), an Occupying Power may evacuate civilians only for their own security or imperative military reasons, and even then the measure must be temporary and allow safe return as soon as hostilities have ceased; at the same time, Articles 55 and 56 obligate the Occupying Power to ensure displaced persons have adequate food, medical care, hygiene and shelter.
ENDS
For more information and for interviews, please contact:
Clare Cronin, Head of Communications – Oxfam Ireland clare.cronin@oxfam.org +353 (0) 87 195 2551
“Israel’s plan to confine civilians in militarised ‘humanitarian’ zones under armed guard, while displacing hundreds of thousands through relentless bombardment, is a grotesque violation of humanitarian principles. In any other conflict, civilians have a route to safety. Palestinians are being caged, corralled, and shoved towards the coastline with nowhere to run. This is not humanitarian aid - it is forced internment, and the international community must not continue to ignore such blatant war crimes.
“Imagine trying to move with four children or an elderly parent in the middle of the night, with no transport and nowhere to go. People are so exhausted, many would rather face death than flee again.”
