Dr Eado Hecht from the Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (Besa), an Israeli think tank specialising in national security and foreign policy, agreed that the data showed a new dividing line, but questioned whether it was designed to be permanent.
“There is a new partition corridor separating Gaza City and the northern towns of the Gaza Strip. The goal is to cut off the Hamas – and other organizations’ – forces that have returned to that area from support and the ability to retreat, so they can be dealt with more effectively.”
Israel has denied that it is implementing the “General’s Plan”. Under the strategy, devised by former general Giora EIland, civilians would be told to leave the north, supplies would be blocked and the area would become a military zone. Those who remained would be treated as combatants and and faced with the choice of “surrender or starve”, with aim of putting pressure on Hamas to release its hostages.
In a statement to the BBC, an IDF spokesperson said: “The IDF operates according to well-established military plans, and the claim that the IDF is implementing this specific plan is incorrect.”
But concerns have mounted over the safety of the thousands of Palestinian civilians who remain in besieged towns in north Gaza.
The UN and aid charities have raised significant concerns about the situation in the north of Gaza. While thousands of people have been displaced, the UN says up to 60,000 people could remain in the area.
The UN also says that “virtually no aid” has entered the North Gaza governorate in 50 days. A spokesperson said that Palestinians were facing “facing critical shortages of supplies and services, as well as severe overcrowding and poor hygiene conditions” due to the blockade.
Earlier this month, a UN-backed assessment said there was a strong likelihood that famine was imminent in the besieged areas of northern Gaza.
BBC analysis shows around 90% of north Gaza has been subject to evacuation orders since the start of October. Videos posted on social media document people being moved south of the new partition. It is not clear if and when they will be able to return, but Israel’s foreign minister has insisted civilians will be allowed to return after the war.
Satellite images show the displacement of people in north Gaza. Large groups of tents, erected as temporary shelter, disappear. In the area left behind, there are often destroyed buildings and other examples of military activity.
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