The Washington Post revealed, based on satellite images and field investigations, that Israel has been carrying out large-scale demolition operations and establishing military fortifications in northern Gaza, causing tens of thousands of Palestinian residents to flee from their homes.

Field Conditions in Northern Gaza

• The Israeli attack began on October 5, 2023, targeting the areas of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun, where Israeli forces declared their goal was to eliminate Hamas presence in these areas.

• According to the United Nations, over 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced from these areas, with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 remaining, compared to the population before the war.

• Humanitarian aid to the affected areas is almost nonexistent due to Israeli restrictions, raising warnings of impending famine in some regions.

Widespread Destruction and Military Fortifications

• Satellite images showed that nearly half of the Jabalia refugee camp was removed between October and December 2023.

• A military axis connecting the northern coastal areas to the border with Israel has been established, involving the removal of buildings and the creation of fortified military outposts.

• This transformation resembles the military “Netzarim Corridor” previously established by Israel in the middle of Gaza, but this time it is being implemented in densely populated urban areas.

Humanitarian Implications

• According to the United Nations Satellite Center, one-third of buildings in northern Gaza were destroyed by December 1, 2023, including:

• More than 5,000 buildings in Jabalia.

• 3,000 buildings in Beit Lahiya.

• 2,000 buildings in Beit Hanoun.

• 5,500 people sheltering in schools in Beit Lahiya were forced to flee southward to Gaza in December.

Testimonies from Residents

• Saeed Kilani from Beit Lahiya said: “Everything was destroyed to force us to leave.”

• Nermin, who lost 125 family members in an Israeli airstrike, described the tragedy of burying her relatives, adding that the attack left her with 10 injured children in her care.

• Residents described the evacuations as “violent and systematic,” with men and boys separated from women and children, and some being arbitrarily detained.

Israeli Justifications

• The Israel Defense Forces denied claims by former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon that the operations aim for “ethnic cleansing.”

• The army clarified that the operations target “military objectives only” and that residents are asked to evacuate for their safety.

• The spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister indicated that the return of residents is currently not permitted, justifying this by the risk of them being used as human shields by Hamas.

Analysis and Expectations

Analysts believe that Israeli movements aim to create a “buffer zone” in northern Gaza, separating these areas from the city of Gaza, raising concerns about the resettlement of Palestinians. The return of residents to the destroyed areas remains a fundamental point of contention in any potential ceasefire negotiations.

These reports highlight the worsening humanitarian disaster in northern Gaza, amid a military escalation that threatens further displacement and destruction.