Satellite images reveal Israel expanding Gaza military sites | Gaza News
Israeli Military Expansion in Gaza Amidst Stalled Reconstruction Efforts
Satellite imagery indicates that Israel is advancing the construction of permanent military bases in Gaza, particularly in the city of Rafah, as U.S.-backed reconstruction plans falter. The proposed rebuilding of Rafah, which was heavily damaged during two years of Israeli airstrikes, was intended to serve as a cornerstone of a new vision for the region, but progress on this initiative appears to have stalled.
An investigation by Al Jazeera’s Digital Investigations Unit utilized satellite images from Planet Labs and Sentinel Hub to reveal a marked increase in Israeli military fortifications across Gaza. These developments are particularly pronounced in Rafah.
Analysis of images captured from February 25 to March 15 indicates that while debris clearing has come to a virtual standstill in northern Gaza and Rafah, the construction of military infrastructure has intensified. Notably, satellite images from March 10 depict significant military activity at the strategically significant al-Muntar hilltop in Shujayea and at various outposts in Khan Younis to the south.
In central Gaza, images from March 15 reveal the continuation of trench construction and earthen berms reaching the Maghazi camp near Deir el-Balah. In the Juhor ad-Dik area, new roads have been established to connect existing military sites with newly leveled areas, suggesting the establishment of permanent military outposts.
These findings support a recent investigation by Forensic Architecture, which identified 48 Israeli military sites in Gaza, with 13 constructed following an October ceasefire. Many of these sites have been developed into permanent bases, featuring paved roads and watchtowers, along with consistent communication links to Israel’s military.
The U.S. initiative for a “New Rafah,” showcased by Jared Kushner at the World Economic Forum in January, has been criticized by the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor as a vehicle for demographic re-engineering and forced displacement. Under this plan, Gaza would be reorganized into designated population blocks and closed military zones, confining Palestinians to enclosed “cities” with limited access to essential services.
Further complicating matters, satellite images reveal ongoing construction along the Gaza “yellow line,” which has been redefined as a permanent boundary. Reports from March show the creation of a dirt berm encroaching into Palestinian-designated lands.
Despite the October ceasefire, violence continues in Gaza. The Ministry of Health reports approximately 750 deaths and over 2,090 injuries since the ceasefire began, with the total death toll since the onset of conflict in October 2023 surpassing 72,300. Independent studies have suggested that the actual toll could be significantly higher. An Al Jazeera analysis found that Israeli attacks occurred on 160 out of the 182 days since the ceasefire was declared.
The ability to document these developments has been impeded by new restrictions on satellite imagery from conflict zones. Providers including Planet Labs have announced limitations, following a request from the U.S. government. Humanitarian assessments by groups such as Oxfam and Save the Children have deemed the reconstruction efforts under the Trump administration a failure, citing a lack of demonstrable impact on conditions in Gaza.
