Understanding Israel’s Occupation Plan for the Gaza Strip Through Maps - Le Figaro

CARTE - The 'Chariots of Gideon' plan, officially launched by Benjamin Netanyahu's government, calls for a long-term occupation of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army. The two million Palestinians would be relocated to a tiny area in the south of the enclave.

The new Israeli military operation in Gaza, titled "Chariots of Gideon" and officially launched by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, aims mainly to "completely defeat Hamas". It is structured in three phases, each offering an exit for the terrorist movement, should they release the remaining 57 hostages in the enclave, even though 34 are presumed deceased.

Since the end of the ceasefire on March 18, the massive bombings has paved the way for the first phase: the 'preparation' of the vast area between the Morag Corridor and the Philadelphi Corridor where the ruins of Rafah lie. The goal is to relocate the entire civilian population - over two million Palestinians - there in the second phase.

Here, the population has fled, and every building is being systematically destroyed. A soldier, recently back from Rafah, told the Israeli-Palestinian magazine +972 that he had 'demolished 60 houses a day.' 'The horizon is flat. There is no city left' he added. Armored D9 bulldozers, explosive-laden armored vehicles, booby-trapped robots… the methods used by the Israel Defense Forces are numerous.

In the northern area of Rafah, already devastated by 19 months of war, dozens of buildings and homes were leveled by the Israeli army between April 25 and May 10. The same method has been applied in surrounding areas since the end of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, troops have established several new military outposts, further tightening their grip on the ground.

Since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Israeli response, the 365 square kilometers of the Gaza Strip have suffered major destruction: ,60.4% of its buildings, or 173,770 structures,, have been damaged or destroyed. In addition, around ,three-quarters of the existing agricultural land, have been lost, worsening the situation for the civilian population.

Before the over 200 trucks carrying food entered since this Monday, none had been able to cross ,the checkpoints, leading to the Palestinian enclave since March 2. Only Kerem Shalom and Kissoufim remained open for humanitarian rotations. 15,000 vehicles on average supplied Gaza before the conflict, a number very rarely reached in nineteen months of war.

Although Israel occupies ,about one-third of the Gaza Strip,, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this monday morning that the Hebrew state would take control of "the entire territory". This statement coincides with that of a "large-scale ground operation" marking the beginning of the second phase of the "Chariots of Gideon" plan.

This phase is expected to be marked by intensified fighting, but above all by the relocation of tthe entire civilian population to the 'humanitarian zone' prepared during the first phase . Residents of the Gaza Strip would be screened to prevent Hamas fighters from blending in with civilians. However, the daily newspaper Israel Hayom reports that this measure might not be implemented immediately.

In this narrow stretch of territory, Israeli authorities have established large complexes to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Its distribution will be overseen by the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization backed by the United States in close coordination with the Israeli government. The aid will be safeguarded to prevent looting or use by Hamas.

In the third and final phase, the Israeli army would enter the entire enclave to 'eliminate Hamas operatives and infrastructure, without being hindered by the presence of civilians,' according to the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), an Israeli think tank. This phase is expected to last at least several months.

SOURCES ReutersOpenStreetMapArmed Conflict Location and Event DataGaza War MapPlanet LabsDamage analysis of Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite data by Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University’s Conflict Ecology lab.UNOSAT - FAO Gaza Strip Cropland Damage Analysis - December 2024The New York TimesBureau de la coordination des affaires humanitaires (OCHA)Coordinateur des activités gouvernementales dans les territoires (COGAT)+972Israel HayomYediot Aharonot