The IDF appears to be clearing roads in the northern Gaza Strip for operational movement, a move that The Washington Post claimed to be for the purpose of constructing a strategic corridor in a Monday report.
In the report, The Post provides satellite imagery of what appears to be a route on a pre-existing road and demolished buildings all alongside it.
While the IDF has not officially confirmed these activities, they appear aligned with a strategy to expand a strategic axis stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the border fence, The Post claims. Analysts have compared the corridor’s development to buffer zone strategies implemented in other conflict-prone regions, noting differences in scale and urban density.
The report also likened this activity to the already-existing Netzarim corridor, which the IDF began constructing in October of 2023. The Netzarim corridor is a 6.5-kilometer road that connects Kibbutz Be’eri to Gaza’s coastline and plays a key role in facilitating military mobility and strategic initiatives.
Unlike the Netzarim corridor, which involved the demolition and clearing of a large portion of the field to establish a security route, the imagery provided by The Post appears to show clearance around the size of the pre-existing road and surrounding buildings. The images also do not show any paving or construction done by the IDF.
The report cites humanitarian concerns that arise during these kinds of operations. The United Nations reports that over 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced from northern Gaza, with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 remaining in the area under severe conditions. International organizations also claim that due to the ongoing war, there are difficulties with the entrance and distribution of humanitarian aid.
The IDF has sought to address such concerns, emphasizing its commitment to targeting “military objectives exclusively” and taking measures to minimize civilian harm. These efforts include evacuation orders and the maintenance of humanitarian corridors.
Maj. Ammiad, an operations officer in the 401st Brigade, reaffirmed the IDF’s ethical standards, stating: “We do not compromise on our most fundamental values. We only target the enemy and are very clear in distinguishing between them and civilians.”
Previous reports have suggested that nearly half of the Jabalya refugee camp has been cleared since mid-October, with some reports claiming for the purpose of creating a separation between northern Gaza and Gaza City.
This separation of northern Gaza is often referred to as a pre-existing strategy and potential option by the IDF known as the "General's plan," which IDF and Israeli government officials have stated as being "under consideration," but never approved or implemented.
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, posted on X/Twitter which contradicted a FEWS (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) report, which put an early famine warning on the northern part of the Gaza Strip based on an inaccurate number of Gazans in the area.
— Ambassador Jack Lew (@USAmbIsrael) December 24, 2024
FEWS has since redacted the update on its website and has said that it is expected to be re-released with updated data and analysis in January.
Creating a buffer from Hamas
Meanwhile, N12 reported on Tuesday that the IDF finished the construction of the Netzarim corridor for operational and strategic purposes.
According to N12 News, the IDF’s activities along the corridor involve a mix of defensive measures and targeted offensives designed to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and engage remaining enemy forces concentrated in Gaza. City. Lt.-Col. (res.) Tzach, a commander in Battalion 697, noted that the corridor is integral to securing Israeli positions and directly confronting Hamas fighters.
Strategically, the construction of these corridors, such as the Netzarim corridor and related operations, is seen as integral to efforts to establish a buffer zone between Hamas and southern Israeli border communties.
Israeli officials have described these measures as essential for preventing Hamas from using returning civilians as human shields. David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, told the Washington Post that such actions aim to secure Israeli communities and mitigate future threats.
Meanwhile, the broader conflict has left negotiations between Israel and Hamas at an impasse. A key sticking point remains Hamas’s demand for the return of displaced families to northern areas.
Most recently, the Israeli delegation returned from Qatar on Tuesday for internal consultations after Hamas continued to fail to provide Israel with a list of remaining live hostages. The PMO clarified that this is not due to a breakdown in negotiations, which are still ongoing.