 "Representational image. File image/ Reuters")
Israel appears to be planning to depopulate north Gaza and not allow Palestinians to move beyond the Netzarim Corridor even after the end of the war.
Since the war began between Israel and Hamas last year, nearly 1.9 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip —90 per cent of the population— have been displaced. They have been sheltering in southern Gaza as north and central Gaza have seen the most intensive battles and bombardment that have flattened entire neighbourhoods across cities.
Israel’s Hebrew-language outlet Ynet has reported that Israel appears to be planning to depopulate north Gaza, the area north of the Netzarim Corridor, which amounts to roughly a third of entire Gaza. It reported that it appears that Israel would not allow any displaced Palestinians belonging to the north of the Netzarim Corridor to return to the area once Palestinians start to return to their homes after the end of the war.
The Netzarim Corridor (see below) is a strip of land —a corridor— that divides Gaza into two parts. It runs from Israel’s border with Gaza to all the way to Gaza’s coast of Mediterranean Sea.
The depopulation of north Gaza has been condemned as an act of ethnic cleansing. In a post on X, Israeli affairs analyst Shaiel Ben-Ephraim shared the Ynet’s report and said: “The entire top third of Gaza will be depopulated in accordance with the ‘General’s Plan’. If this is true, it is ethnic cleansing. There can be no other name for it.”
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More ShortsIsrael military to depopulate north Gaza — subject to political approval
The way Israel has been operating in Gaza, such as removing 65,000 of 70,000 people south towards Gaza City from Jabalia, indicates that the plan is to depopulate north Gaza, according to Ynet.
The outlet reported that the final decision is yet to be taken on such a move by the Benjamin Netanyahu government.
The plan to depopulate north Gaza could, however, be given up if a deal for the release of hostages is reached, according to the outlet.
“Subject to the political echelon, it [Israel] is expected to leave the uppermost, northernmost third of the Gaza Strip as a dismembered and depopulated area. All this, of course, could change if a hostage deal is signed that will change the current reality in Gaza,” reported Ynet, according to the report’s English translation.
A hint of the political echelon’s position can be seen in a tweet from Defense Minister Yisrael Katz this morning: “My position on Gaza is clear. After we defeat Hamas’s military and governmental power in Gaza, Israel will control Gaza with full freedom of action, just like in Judea and Samaria,” he said. “We will not allow any terrorist organization against Israeli communities and Israeli citizens from Gaza. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7.”
However, there are signs that the military is preparing for the depopulation in case the order comes from the Netanyahu government.
“Ynet’s investigation shows that the Southern Command is preparing to keep the new dismemberment route that was established in recent months. It begins near the perimeter fence, near Kibbutz Kfar Gaza, and ends at the beach. The goal, as mentioned, is to prevent the return of Gazans to their homes in Jabaliya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya, which closely overlook Israeli communities such as Netiv Ha’asara, Sderot, Mefalsim and Erez,” says the Ynet report.
Fears of such depopulation were also raised by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’ remarks in which he said that Gaza’s security control would remain with Israel.
In remark hinting at Israeli military occupation of Gaza, Katz posted on X in Hebrew: “In response to various publications - my position on Gaza is clear. After we defeat Hamas’ military and governmental power in Gaza, Israel will have security control over Gaza with full freedom of action, just as it did in Judea and Samaria. We will not allow any terrorist organization against Israeli communities and Israeli citizens from Gaza. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7th.”