Israel's new grid maps add to confusion and anger in Gaza

Facing mounting pressure to lessen Palestinian civilian suffering, Israel has combined its assault on the southern Gaza Strip with an online map dividing the enclave into hundreds of zones, which it says will direct residents to safe areas away from its fight against Hamas.

However, this grid-based map has been derided by international aid agencies and people in Gaza. They say it is a confusing system that many inside the densely populated strip will be unable to access because of the intermittent electricity and internet coverage.

Furthermore, Palestinians and international observers of Israel’s aerial and ground operation say that — with or without a map — nowhere in this heavily bombarded and besieged enclave is safe.

“The map isn’t usable because the communications are really, really bad,” Mohammad Ghalayini, who lives in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, told NBC News.