From Al Jazeera · Mohammed Haddad · · 2m
Israel expands control of Gaza beyond ceasefire line
Nearly two-thirds of Gaza is now under Israeli military control, squeezing Palestinians into ever-smaller territory despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
In brief
Nearly two-thirds of Gaza is now under Israeli military control, squeezing Palestinians into ever-smaller territory despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Israel has expanded military control beyond the Yellow Line established under Trump's ceasefire plan, confining two point one million Palestinians to…
Israel expands beyond ceasefire line
Israel has expanded military occupation in Gaza in violation of a US-brokered ceasefire, forcing Palestinians into an ever-smaller share of the besieged territory devastated by ongoing war.
The Yellow Line was supposed to hold
The original Yellow Line, established under President Donald Trump's twenty-point plan, marked where Israeli forces initially withdrew. They were expected to withdraw gradually but have seized more territory instead.
Concrete blocks move west overnight
On Sunday, Israeli forces moved yellow concrete blocks dozens of metres west in Shujayea, a neighbourhood in southeastern Gaza City, forcing Palestinian families to flee and expanding Israeli military control.
Gaza before the war was densely packed
Before the war, Gaza was a three hundred sixty-five square kilometre territory with about six thousand people per square kilometre, similar to Nairobi or London.Each person had about one hundred sixty square metres of land.
Ceasefire confined Palestinians to half
Under the ceasefire, the Yellow Line left Israel in control of fifty-three percent of Gaza and confined Palestinians to forty-seven percent, about one hundred seventy-two square kilometres.Population density doubled to twelve thousand per square kilometre.
Israel now controls seventy percent
Since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have repeatedly moved yellow concrete blocks farther west. Israel itself said it controls about seventy percent of Gaza, according to a UN official who told the Security Council in June.
Two point one million in thirty-five percent
Two point one million Palestinians are now confined to about thirty-five percent of Gaza, roughly one hundred twenty-eight square kilometres.Population density has nearly tripled to about sixteen thousand per square kilometre, close to central Tokyo.
Approaching the line can be deadly
Israel treats areas beyond the Yellow Line as a free-fire zone. Nearly one thousand five hundred people have been killed across Gaza since the ceasefire was announced, many shot near the line.
The one thing
Israel has expanded military control beyond the Yellow Line established under Trump's ceasefire plan, confining two point one million Palestinians to thirty-five percent of Gaza with population density approaching central Tokyo.
