Since the resumption of the war against Hamas last month, Israel has significantly expanded its control over the Gaza Strip, now holding more than 50% of the territory. This has been achieved through an extensive military campaign that has left large parts of Gaza in ruins. The Israeli military has established a buffer zone along the Gaza border, which has been systematically razed to the point of uninhabitability, forcing Palestinians into shrinking sections of land.
Israeli officials have claimed that this tightening grip is a temporary measure aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that started the conflict. However, critics, including human rights organizations and Gaza experts, warn that Israel may be positioning itself for long-term control over the territory.
The largest area now under Israeli control lies along the Gaza border, where significant infrastructure has been demolished. The military has doubled the size of this buffer zone in recent weeks, with reports indicating that it now extends up to 3 kilometers into Gaza in some places. According to a map released by the Israeli military, this zone, combined with the Netzarim Corridor—an area that divides the north from the south of Gaza—now covers at least 50% of the strip.
Professor Yaakov Garb of Ben Gurion University, an expert on land use patterns in the region, stated that Israel’s control over this land has significantly altered the territorial makeup of Gaza. “Israel now controls more than half of Gaza, with key sections of the territory isolated and made largely uninhabitable,” he said. “This is a long-term strategy, not just a temporary security measure.”
The Netzarim Corridor, a narrow strip of land running through the center of Gaza, has been seized by Israel, further dividing the already fragmented territory. This division has separated Gaza City, the largest urban center in the north, from the southern parts of Gaza, which include cities like Rafah. The creation of these corridors has left Gaza’s residents with fewer areas to live, farm, and access basic resources.
Israel’s official rationale for expanding the buffer zone is to create a safer environment for its southern border communities, which were severely affected by the October 7 Hamas attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking last week, emphasized that the war would continue until Hamas is dismantled and the remaining hostages are freed. Netanyahu also confirmed that Israel intends to maintain security control in Gaza even after Hamas is defeated, pushing for the eventual relocation of Palestinians from the region.
“The goal is to create corridors and secure zones that will help us restore peace and protect our citizens,” Netanyahu stated. “Once Hamas is eliminated, we will continue to oversee security in Gaza, and we will work toward encouraging Palestinians to leave the area.”
However, this expansion of Israeli control has come at a heavy cost for Gaza’s civilian population. The land that is now part of Israel’s buffer zone was once home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, many of whom worked the land and lived in dense agricultural and residential communities. Satellite images show once-thriving neighborhoods reduced to rubble, with residential buildings, schools, and businesses flattened.
In Beit Hanoun, a town in northern Gaza, Nidal Alzaanin, a 55-year-old farmer, returned to his property after a ceasefire in January, only to find his home and livelihood destroyed. “It took 20 years to build a house, and within five minutes, they destroyed everything. My dreams, my children’s dreams—all gone,” Alzaanin said. He now shelters in Gaza City after being forced off his land by Israeli forces.
The extensive demolition of buildings and farmland in the buffer zone has been described as systematic and deliberate. Soldiers who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity detailed the orders they received to destroy crops, irrigation systems, and entire neighborhoods. “We destroyed everything we could. We flattened land, tore up irrigation pipes, and burned crops,” one soldier stated. “The people who lived here will never return.”
The creation of the buffer zone has not been without controversy. The Israeli army has maintained that its actions are necessary to protect civilians and that it is acting in accordance with international law. The army insists that it does not intentionally harm civilians and that it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties.
Yet, the scope of the destruction and the manner in which the military has operated have raised serious concerns among human rights organizations. Breaking The Silence, an Israeli veterans’ group, released a report documenting soldiers’ accounts of the widespread destruction in Gaza. The group has accused the Israeli military of laying the groundwork for long-term control over the region through the systematic destruction of Palestinian property and infrastructure.
“This is not just about creating a temporary security zone. It’s about securing land for long-term Israeli control,” said Nadia Hardman, a researcher with Human Rights Watch. “What’s happening here amounts to ethnic cleansing. The Palestinians who once lived in these areas will never be allowed to return.”
In addition to the large-scale destruction, soldiers also described a “kill zone” around the buffer zone where any Palestinian who approached the area was shot at, including women and children. “Anyone who came within 500 meters of the tanks was shot,” one soldier reported. “It didn’t matter who they were.”
Israel has faced widespread international criticism for its handling of the Gaza conflict, with some analysts accusing it of violating international law. The forced displacement of Palestinians from their land and the destruction of their homes have led to accusations of war crimes. However, the Israeli government has defended its actions, claiming that its military operations are in line with its security needs.
The long-term implications of Israel’s actions in Gaza remain uncertain. While the Israeli military insists that its operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas and ensuring the safety of its citizens, critics argue that the goal is to establish permanent control over Gaza and to force Palestinians from the region. The creation of new corridors and the systematic demolition of Palestinian neighborhoods suggest that Israel’s military presence in Gaza could continue for the foreseeable future.
As the war drags on, the situation for Gaza’s civilians grows increasingly dire. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced, and many more are living in increasingly cramped conditions as Israel continues to expand its military control. The international community remains divided on how to address the conflict, but one thing is clear: the situation in Gaza is far from over, and the future of the region remains uncertain.
