Hamas condemns Israel’s proposal to establish buffer zone around Gaza

Reports indicate that Israel is in the process of setting up a 1km-wide ‘security belt’ along the Gaza Strip, a move that has garnered disapproval from the US and criticism from international experts. In response, Hamas official Osama Hamdan based in Lebanon has labeled Israel’s intention to create a buffer zone along its border with Gaza as a “crime” and an act of “blatant aggression” against the Palestinian people.
Hamdan stated that Israel is aiming to create a security belt along the Strip by demolishing entire residential blocks and destroying farms and civilian infrastructure, which he called a crime and a blatant act of aggression against their land and holy places. He expressed confidence that the Palestinian people and their resistance will thwart these efforts.
Furthermore, Hamdan criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to him as “delusional”, and predicted that Gaza would be the “cemetery” of his plans. He also condemned the United States for supporting the Israeli military and for its involvement in crimes against Gaza.
According to Israeli media reports on Wednesday, the military is working to establish an informal buffer zone approximately a kilometre wide to prevent attackers from accessing Israeli communities near Gaza. Satellite images preceding the recent attack showed the destruction of buildings and agricultural fields in the area, suggesting the military’s efforts to uproot infrastructure near the border for the security of Israeli communities on the other side.
Mustafa Barghouti, the general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative party, believes that the true intention behind this move is to reduce Gaza’s size. He argued that the potential execution of this plan could be seen as an act of “ethnic cleansing” and a recognition of Israel’s military goals’ failure in Gaza.

‘Unjustified’ under international law
Geoffrey Nice, a former United Nations war crimes prosecutor, asserted that Israel has no legal grounds to create a “buffer zone” in Gaza by demolishing Palestinian homes and seizing agricultural land. He emphasized the importance of preserving the fertile farmland crucial to Gaza’s economy and called the process unjustified under international law. Nice suggested imposing sanctions against Israel by powerful nations to prevent the land grab.
The US, a staunch supporter of Israel’s right to self-defense, expressed opposition to any attempt by Israel to shrink Gaza’s territory or to militarily occupy it. The US and much of the international community have proposed a post-war plan involving the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution, a proposition rejected by Netanyahu.
Barghouti remarked that if the US genuinely opposes the buffer zone, it should demand an end to Israel’s attacks on Gaza. He criticized the US for being a participant in the war by not supporting a ceasefire, implicating them in the war crimes occurring in Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reporting from Washington DC, the Israeli plans to establish a buffer zone in Gaza are not well-received at the White House. She noted a growing divide between the Biden administration and the Israeli government and expressed concerns that transitional arrangements historically become permanent.

Author: OpenAI