29-07-2025
Inside BBC Verify: Satellite image shows crowds surrounding Gaza aid trucks
Update:
Date: 10:15 BST
Title: IDF map shows 'dangerous combat zone' not covered by evacuation orders
Content: Benedict GarmanBBC Verify senior journalist
We've been monitoring evacuation notices and areas the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has designated military zones since the ceasefire ended in March. This allows us to assess which areas of Gaza are effectively inaccessible to people living there.
The most recent official evacuation notice was issued just over a week ago for parts of Deir al Balah.
However, a map released on Sunday by the IDF designated a new section of central Gaza as a 'dangerous combat zone,' without providing an evacuation notice for the area.
The map divides areas into white and red zones, indicating whether they are covered by the recently announced 'tactical' humanitarian pause or remain permanent danger zones. It warns people inside the Strip that entering a red zone 'is dangerous and puts your life at risk.'
The newly-affected area is called Al Mughraqa, north east of Nuseirat - highlighted in dark red on the map below. It covers about 3.7 sq kms and is now marked as a red 'dangerous' zone.
Gazans had already been displaced from this area, which served as part of an Israeli-controlled military corridor before the ceasefire. It has likely remained uninhabited, as satellite imagery shows that nearly every building has been completely demolished.
Update:
Date: 09:54 BST
Title: Welcome to BBC Verify Live
Content: Tom EdgingtonBBC Verify live editor
Good morning and welcome to
Tuesday's BBC Verify Live.
We're continuing to
investigate the aid situation in Gaza, where aid distribution is ongoing
following Israel's announcement of a 'local tactical pause in military
activity'. The pause was announced on Sunday after aid groups warned of mass
starvation.
Overnight, one of our
open-source reporters obtained a new satellite image which shows what appears
to be aid trucks surrounded by crowds - we'll bring you that shortly. We're
also verifying footage of overnight strikes in Gaza which reportedly killed 30 people.
Elsewhere, people on X appear
to have been misled by the AI chatbot Grok over an image of a young girl trying
to access food in Gaza. Our disinformation team will have more on that soon.
And while Gaza remains our
main focus today, we're also verifying footage of Ukrainian drone attacks in
Russia's southern Rostov region that hit a railway station. Meanwhile, in
Ukraine, a Russian airstrike hit a prison in Zaporizhzhia.
