As described in my previous article, the Israeli army is executing a plan to clear two thirds of the Gaza strip of its Palestinian population, by whatever means necessary. Even as a world-wide scandal erupts over the brutal slaughter of fifteen paramedics and civil defence workers, the military is doubling down on its campaign of destruction and terror; in the same area where the ambulance crews were murdered, the IOF has surrounded 50,000 remaining civilians in Tal al Sultan, ordering them to 'evacuate' the area and then 'herding' them towards the sea while shooting at them from drones. This criminal and sordid operation was reported by the ABC, along with Israel's totally mendacious excuse and justification for it. As analysed here by Jonathan Cook, the softening and diversion of criticism of the genocidal Israeli state from the ABC is led by its elder colonial sister the BBC. Tal al Sultan was one of Gaza's original refugee camps, but has also become known in this war as the scene of a tent-camp fire, following its targeting with Israeli incendiary weapons. That attack was ten months ago, coming as Israel moved forces and tanks into Rafah and took over the Philadelphia corridor. Significantly perhaps, this was one part of Gaza that Israel recently refused to evacuate its forces from under the terms of the ceasefire. From the map published last week it is clear that the complete occupation and cleansing of Rafah is a key part of its longer term plan, preventing any access for the population to Egypt through the Rafah crossing. We might remember all the statements and threats from world leaders promising to take action should Israel move to take over Rafah - none of which were followed up. Yet only recently has the occupation army focused on destroying every building in the city, reducing it to a concrete jungle more completely than even Jabaliya. While the plan that Israel is following has become evident from 'facts on the ground' - the details and planning behind it have just been made clear in a report from Breaking the Silence. With testimonies from numbers of soldiers involved in clearing the border area and patrolling the perimeter fence, the report makes the intent clear; no building or activity will be permitted within at least a kilometre of the fence, and any person who enters this 'kill zone' will be shot without hesitation or warning. This 'security zone' has always been there, but notionally extending less than 500 metres into Gazan territory. The object now has been to extend this up to 1500 metres, and to make the whole area into a 'kill zone'. One might ask just how long this security zone has been declared, if not enforced, as a map of the strip from May 2005, before the removal of Israeli settlements from Gaza, shows a demarcation line at least 1000 metres in from the fence. In the key it says that the green dotted line marks the 'Oslo-defined security perimeter'. In the two maps below, I have highlighted this dotted green line, along with some other significant features.
The unedited map is worth close study, showing where the Israeli settlements were, and the original refugee camps that have been the main targets of the IOF. Of particular significance are the settlements of Netzarim and that of Morag, south of Khan Younis where a new division is being created separating Khan Younis from Rafah. The 'safe zone' of Al Mawasi is also delineated, as the yellow strip on the sea side of the Southern Israeli settlements.
The last word however goes to Donald Trump, who in conversation with Netanyahu at the White House today suggested that the 'New Gaza' could be 'Freedom Gaza' once it was freed of its troublesome population. This was after Netanyahu suggested that those Palestinians who wanted to take advantage of the new opportunities once Israel had got rid of Hamas would be given assistance to start new lives in other countries.
DM April 8th 2025