Leaked map reveals Israeli plan to divide Gaza and restrict civilian movement.
A leaked map obtained by the British newspaper "Sunday Times" revealed an Israeli proposal to divide the Gaza Strip into 3 civilian zones surrounded by 4 military zones in case negotiations fail to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
According to the map seen by diplomats, the civilian areas will be separated by military zones in the north, center, and south of the Strip, with strict restrictions on civilian movement between them without prior permission. All food and goods will undergo strict security checks using barcodes or images.
The plan includes establishing a new military corridor connecting the south and center of Gaza, which is relatively narrower than the current "Netzarim" corridor, which is 4 kilometers wide.
Israeli army bulldozers are expected to complete the construction of this corridor in the coming weeks to create military infrastructure separating residential areas north of Rafah and south of Netzarim.
The map also shows an expansion of the northern military zone near Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun to facilitate Israeli forces' movements and build additional military sites. The entire Gaza Strip is surrounded by a white strip representing an expanded buffer zone between the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
The map also reveals Israeli intentions to establish up to 12 sites within the civilian areas, likely designated for distributing humanitarian aid. These sites are part of a broader plan overseen by the Israeli forces and executed by private companies, sparking widespread international criticism.
The Israeli army spokesperson refrained from confirming or denying details of this plan, while Israeli military operations in Gaza have continued since March 18th, following the end of a fragile ceasefire that lasted about two months.
This comes in the context of Benjamin Netanyahu's government announcing a plan in early May to "control" the sector, including relocating the vast majority of its 2.4 million inhabitants in an attempt to increase pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages.
In recent days, the sector has witnessed a significant military escalation, with Israeli airstrikes on various locations in Gaza resulting in the deaths of over 250 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health affiliated with Hamas.
