New testimony from an Israeli soldier and reports from multiple human rights groups confirm that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have deliberately transformed large swaths of the Gaza Strip into so-called “kill zones” — areas where any person, regardless of age or affiliation, is considered a legitimate target.

According to an investigation by The Guardian, soldiers stationed in Gaza have admitted that these zones were created by flattening farmland, demolishing homes, and depopulating communities to ensure clear lines of fire. One IDF soldier quoted in *Haaretz* stated, “If someone crosses an imaginary line, they are shot. Every Palestinian body is labeled a terrorist. Even children.”

Footage and satellite imagery reviewed by international outlets reveal massive areas of destruction along the Netzarim Corridor and other strategic points within Gaza. Testimonies collected by *Breaking the Silence*, an Israeli organization made up of former IDF soldiers, support claims that these zones are not about security but about instilling fear and controlling territory.

The practice of turning inhabited land into a “death zone” directly contradicts international law, which prohibits the targeting of civilians and mandates proportionality and distinction in military operations. Yet Israel maintains that the destruction and rules of engagement are necessary to neutralize Hamas operatives and infrastructure.

No independent evidence has been presented to support the claim that the individuals killed in these areas were combatants. On the contrary, human rights monitors report numerous cases of children, journalists, aid workers, and ordinary civilians being shot while attempting to evacuate or deliver aid.

The international response remains muted. While the UN and several NGOs have issued condemnations, the Biden administration has refrained from criticizing its ally, and European governments have largely remained silent. The Trump administration has offered no comment.

In Gaza, survivors describe these zones as open-air death traps. “My brother stepped out to search for water,” one woman told Al Jazeera. “He never came back. We found his body days later, shot in the head.”

Israel’s use of kill zones reflects a deepening disregard for Palestinian life and growing impunity for what human rights experts say amount to war crimes. As new evidence continues to surface, calls are mounting for an independent international investigation into the IDF’s actions in Gaza.

But without pressure from global powers, the civilians caught in these zones are left with no shelter, no escape—and no justice.