Israel presently controls more than half of the Gaza Strip, and their territory is expanding daily. This move follows Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to extend the war in Gaza and is consistent with US President Donald Trump’s polarizing Gaza strategy.
According to the plan, Gaza will be annexed, Palestinians will be forced out, and the area will be turned into a “Riviera of the East.” Netanyahu backs this plan and maintains that the war won’t stop until all Palestinians have left Gaza for good.
Israeli Occupation of Gaza is Growing Quickly
Since mid-March, Israel has significantly increased its presence in Gaza, now controlling more than half of the territory. Analysts predict that this number may eventually rise to 70% or possibly complete control. Before the ceasefire in January, up to 200,000 Palestinians resided in northern Gaza, but Israeli soldiers have already evicted hundreds of thousands of them. Since the last offensive, some 400,000 Palestinians have been forced to escape or be displaced.
Israel is marching southward and has ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate while military operations continue. Israeli officials claim that the occupation aims to regulate the delivery of food and separate civilians from Hamas. Evidence, however, suggests a deeper objective: carrying out Trump’s proposal to completely expel Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s Commitment to Trump’s Gaza Plan
PM Netanyahu publicly stated that the war would only end once all Palestinians had left Gaza. He listed stringent requirements for peace, such as the disarmament of Hamas, the exile of its leaders, and the complete execution of Trump’s plan, which he called “correct” and “revolutionary.”
Israeli forces have demolished entire neighborhoods in recent weeks, particularly in the southernmost city of Rafah. By rendering Gaza uninhabitable, the destruction seeks to drive Palestinians to leave the country permanently. Netanyahu affirmed this plan to Israeli lawmakers, emphasizing that homes would be demolished to keep residents from coming back.
Strategic Flattening of Gaza
This strategy has been validated by Israeli officers and soldiers. In order to level the horizon, one soldier reported razing 60 homes every day and leveling whole areas of Rafah. In addition to allowing for military maneuvers, the destruction guarantees that the displaced Palestinians cannot return. This deliberate destruction supports the long-term objective of permanently removing Gaza’s population.
Trump’s proposal for Gaza strengthens Israeli control over the region and the expulsion of Palestinians, bolstered by Netanyahu’s military onslaught. The world watches while this strategy is carried out, posing grave questions regarding Gaza’s future, regional stability, and human rights.
