Israel is demolishing northern Gaza and fortifying military positions, imagery shows

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1. >Israel is carrying out mass demolitions and erecting military fortifications in residential areas of northern Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes, according to satellite imagery, verified videos and interviews.​​

   >The Israel Defense Forces said it launched an Oct. 5 air and ground assault in the northernmost parts of Gaza — Jabalya, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun — to oust [Hamas](https://archive.is/o/SRiIY/https://www.washingtonpost.com/israel-hamas-war/) militants who had regrouped there and that the operation would “continue as long as necessary.

   >”More than 100,000 Palestinians have been driven from the affected areas over the last 11 weeks, according to the United Nations, leaving an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people — less than an eighth of the prewar population. Hardly any aid has reached the area since the beginning of October due to [Israeli restrictions](https://archive.is/o/SRiIY/https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/un-human-rights-office-opt-briefing-press-situation-gaza-ajith-sunghay-head-un-human-rights-office-occupied-palestinian-territory-enar), humanitarian groups say, and experts warn that [famine](https://archive.is/o/SRiIY/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/11/09/israel-iran-war-news-hamas-gaza-palestine/) may have already taken hold in some places.

   >As areas are emptied of Palestinians, Israeli forces have demolished entire neighborhoods, established military fortifications and built new roads, according to a Washington Post analysis of high-resolution satellite images. The visual evidence shows almost half of Jabalya refugee camp was demolished or cleared between Oct. 14 and Dec. 15, connecting a preexisting road in the west to an expanded vehicle track in the east — carving out a military axis that stretches from the sea to the border fence with Israel.

   >The establishment of this corridor, the clearing of tracts of land on either side of it and the construction of square-shaped protected outposts resemble [the IDF’s transformation of the Netzarim Corridor](https://archive.is/o/SRiIY/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/17/gaza-israel-netzarim-corridor-war-hamas/), a strategic Israeli military zone in the center of Gaza, analysts said. While Israeli forces cut the Netzarim Corridor through a lightly populated, largely agricultural area, Israel’s operations in the north are centered in dense urban neighborhoods — effectively destroying northern Palestinian cities.

2. Similar to the destruction of entire villages in Lebanon. Israel will find or create any justification for the forced transfer of people who inhabited this land for centuries. The settling of the West Bank and the Israeli annexation of Syrian territory can be added to the list. The term Lebensraum seems fitting.

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