Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jun 15: Israeli forces have established a de facto military footprint across Gaza, southern Lebanon and southern Syria covering nearly 1,000 square kilometres since the Gaza war began in October 2023, according to an investigation by Al Jazeera.
The report said the territory now under Israeli control is larger than the area of New York City and represents roughly five per cent of Israel’s total landmass prior to October 2023, including the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
Based on satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS) data and conflict records, the investigation alleged that Israeli military operations have expanded beyond officially declared zones in Gaza and Lebanon, creating a larger footprint than publicly acknowledged.
In Gaza, the report claimed that following an October 2025 ceasefire agreement, the Israeli military introduced a “Yellow Line” to mark an area of control covering about 200 square kilometres. However, satellite imagery reportedly showed military activity and demolitions extending beyond those limits, particularly in northern Gaza and areas such as Shujayea.
A similar pattern was observed in southern Lebanon after the April 2026 ceasefire, with reported demolitions taking place in locations outside the officially declared buffer zone, according to the investigation.
Analysts quoted in the report argued that the territorial expansion reflects a strategy aimed at creating new realities on the ground while avoiding formal declarations of occupation.
Political analyst Ehab Jabareen described the approach as one of “strategic deception” and “calculated chaos”, alleging that official boundaries presented to international mediators differed from realities on the ground.
Experts cited in the report also suggested that territorial expansion has become a substitute for achieving broader military objectives. Political researcher Mohannad Mustafa argued that enlarging buffer zones allows Israeli leaders to project success despite unresolved conflicts involving Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.
The report further claimed that Israel has established a network of military positions beyond the 1974 disengagement line in southern Syria, creating a de facto control zone spanning approximately 235 square kilometres from Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk River.
According to the investigation, more than 800 Israeli military incursions into Syrian territory were recorded between December 2024 and January 2026, with some operations extending deep into the Deraa countryside.
Analysts warned that maintaining control over such a vast area could place increasing strain on Israel’s military resources and economy. They noted that the long-term sustainability of extensive buffer zones remains uncertain, citing Israel’s previous withdrawal from its security zone in southern Lebanon in 2000.
The report concluded that the continuing expansion of territory is being facilitated by the absence of strong international opposition and reflects a belief among some Israeli policymakers that territorial control can address broader security and political challenges.
Israel has not publicly responded to the specific findings cited in the report.