Israel's Long-Term Military Strategy in Gaza: Expanding Occupation Amidst Ongoing Conflict
On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the Israeli army intends to maintain its presence in portions of the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria that have been occupied over the past year and a half, regardless of any potential peace agreements to resolve the ongoing conflicts. This statement aligns with observable military actions on the ground, particularly in border territories, where the army has been actively destroying buildings, paving roads, and constructing military installations. This marks a strategic shift towards establishing a long-term military occupation in these areas.
The extent of the territory occupied by Israel remains somewhat ambiguous, given that these regions are largely inaccessible to civilians and journalists. According to an expert from Ben Gurion University in Jerusalem contacted by the Associated Press, Israel has militarily occupied at least 50 percent of the Gaza Strip. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that approximately 69 percent of the Gaza Strip is either under evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army or is otherwise inaccessible to Palestinian civilians.
Since the onset of the invasion of the Gaza Strip following Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel has established what it terms a buffer zone along the border with the Strip. Initially, this zone extended approximately 300 meters into Gaza. However, as military actions have escalated, this buffer zone has expanded significantly. By March, after the collapse of the ceasefire and the restart of hostilities, the buffer zone reached the outskirts of major cities such as Gaza City to the north and Rafah to the south. Notably, the northern Strip town of Beit Hanun has been fully integrated into this zone, making the term "buffer zone" increasingly misleading.
Recent reports from the organization Breaking the Silence, which compiles testimonies from former Israeli soldiers, provide alarming insights into the conduct of Israeli troops within these buffer zones. Several soldiers disclosed receiving explicit directives from their superiors to demolish all structures in their path, encompassing residential buildings, greenhouses, and farms. One anonymous sergeant major recounted, "That was the order. The instruction was that nothing should be left standing except for UNRWA schools and small water facilities." UNRWA, or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, provides vital humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees.
Another interviewed soldier observed the catastrophic environmental and societal impacts of these military operations, noting that prior to the arrival of Israeli forces, the area contained cultivated fields and groves. Post-occupation, however, these regions have been transformed into barren sand dunes reflecting total devastation. This soldier articulated a poignant realization, stating, "It was very clear to me what was happening; we were nibbling away at pieces of the Strip."
The Israeli government defends the necessity of these buffer zones, citing security concerns and the imperative to protect Israeli territory from potential attacks. This rationale mirrors years of justification for the illegal occupation of significant portions of the West Bank, a territory that the vast majority of the international community recognizes should belong to the Palestinians. Currently, over 500,000 individuals reside in Israeli settlements constructed in these occupied areas of the West Bank.
In conclusion, statements from Israeli leaders and reports from soldiers indicate a troubling trajectory marked by the ongoing expansion of military occupation and aggressive tactics within Palestinian territories. As the conflict persists, the implications for the region's stability, humanitarian conditions, and the prospects for meaningful peace negotiations remain dire.
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