Israel Controls 50% of Gaza Territory, Displacing Thousands/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel now controls more than 50% of the Gaza Strip after expanding its buffer zone and demolishing large swaths of Palestinian land. Rights groups and Israeli soldiers say the destruction is deliberate and may signal long-term control. Prime Minister Netanyahu insists the goal is to pressure Hamas, but critics warn of permanent displacement.
Israel’s Growing Gaza Control: Quick Looks
- Israel now controls over half of Gaza, including a key north-south corridor.
- Expansion of the buffer zone displaces Palestinians and destroys farmland.
- Satellite images show widespread demolition of neighborhoods and infrastructure.
- Israeli soldiers describe deliberate destruction to deny Hamas cover.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu vows continued security control after the war.
- Human rights groups warn of forced displacement and war crimes.
- Gaza residents describe loss of homes, crops, and historic landmarks.
- New army outposts and checkpoints mark deeper Israeli presence.
- Some analysts say buffer zone is security-focused; others see long-term occupation.
Deep Look
Israel Controls Over Half of Gaza, Expands Buffer Zone Through Widespread Demolition
Israel has significantly expanded its control over the Gaza Strip, now occupying more than 50% of the territory following the resumption of its military campaign against Hamas. This expansion has been marked by the creation and enlargement of a military buffer zone, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the division of Gaza into isolated sections.
According to rights groups and testimonies from Israeli soldiers, Israel’s buffer zone along the Gaza border has doubled in recent weeks. In this area, Palestinian homes, farms, and public infrastructure have been methodically demolished, making large portions of the land uninhabitable.
Much of this activity is concentrated in a wide swath of territory running along the border and across the center of Gaza via the Netzarim Corridor, which now effectively cuts the northern section, including Gaza City, off from the rest of the coastal enclave. Israeli forces plan to expand this further by carving out an additional corridor in southern Gaza that would isolate the city of Rafah.
These combined areas now represent at least half of the Gaza Strip, according to Yaakov Garb, an environmental studies professor who has long researched Israeli-Palestinian land use.
Israel justifies its expanding presence as necessary to increase pressure on Hamas and to ensure the safety of southern Israeli communities devastated in the October 7, 2023 attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed last week that even after Hamas is defeated, Israel will maintain security control over Gaza. He also reiterated support for “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the territory, echoing a controversial proposal endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
However, human rights organizations and analysts argue that these actions suggest a longer-term strategy for control. Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli military veterans opposed to the occupation, published a new report Monday detailing soldier accounts of deliberate and systematic destruction in the buffer zone.
“They destroyed everything they could. They shot everything that looked like it was functioning,” one soldier told the Associated Press. “They [Palestinians] will have nothing to return to.” Other soldiers described bulldozing homes, factories, trees, and farmland to turn the area into a wasteland that could prevent repopulation.
Satellite imagery corroborates these accounts, showing entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and at least a dozen new Israeli military outposts established since a ceasefire ended in January.
Among the displaced is 55-year-old Nidal Alzaanin, a farmer from Beit Hanoun. After briefly returning during the ceasefire, he found his house, greenhouse, and even a 150-year-old family tree destroyed.
“It took 20 years to build a house and within five minutes they destroyed all my dreams,” he said.
Israeli troops are reported to have created what one soldier called a “kill zone,” where anyone approaching within 500 meters of tanks was considered a threat and potentially shot — including civilians. This approach, soldiers said, was driven by a sense of vengeance after the October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 people taken hostage.
The Israeli army stated it operates within the bounds of international law and targets militants, not civilians. It says buffer zones are vital to preventing future attacks and safeguarding Israeli communities.
Netanyahu has said that the destruction and territorial divisions are part of an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages — 59 of whom remain in captivity, though 35 are presumed dead.
Critics, however, argue the destruction appears designed to permanently alter the landscape and demography of Gaza. Human Rights Watch researcher Nadia Hardman labeled the practice “ethnic cleansing,” citing the likelihood that displaced Palestinians will never be allowed to return to their land.
Israel dismissed these allegations as “baseless,” stating that it issues evacuation orders and works to minimize harm to civilians.
Some Israeli experts, such as Kobi Michael of the Institute for National Security Studies, believe the buffer zones are intended only as temporary measures.
“This is something that any sane country will do when it borders a hostile entity,” he said, referring to Hamas’ governance of Gaza.
Yet, the extensive demolition — including homes, factories, crops, and public infrastructure — suggests a broader objective than mere border security.
The Gaza Strip, home to over 2 million people, is already under severe strain. Displacement, food insecurity, and ongoing conflict have made survival increasingly difficult for its population. As Israel’s footprint grows and entire communities vanish, concerns rise about the long-term humanitarian consequences and the legal implications under international law.
What remains uncertain is how long Israel intends to maintain control over these areas — and what the future holds for the displaced Palestinian population.
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