DaysofPal- The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has warned of a serious escalation in the construction of fortified Israeli military sites inside the Gaza Strip, saying it is a part of a systematic effort to impose a lasting reality that could lead to the de facto annexation of large areas of Palestinian land.
In a statement issued Thursday morning, the organization said its field team had documented a rapid increase in the establishment of permanent and heavily fortified military positions near what is referred to as the “Yellow Line.” This zone isolates roughly 55 percent of the Gaza Strip and places it under direct Israeli control.
According to the group, Israeli forces have been building these sites just dozens of meters from Salah al-Din Road, along the eastern areas of Gaza. The installations consist of elevated sand and earth mounds spread across wide areas, hosting troops and military vehicles. They also include watchtowers, communication systems, and logistical infrastructure, indicating an effort to entrench a long-term military presence and create new facts on the ground.
The organization reported the establishment of at least 20 military sites of varying sizes in eastern Gaza. It said the data reflects a fast-moving strategy to consolidate control over large parts of the territory by force, in contradiction with the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which was expected to lead to a withdrawal of Israeli forces rather than an expansion of their deployment.
Destruction of civilian areas
The statement highlighted the construction of many of these newly established military positions on the ruins of residential buildings, agricultural land, and other Palestinian property. These areas were subjected to widespread demolition, bulldozing, and leveling operations that erased entire neighborhoods and altered their geographic features.
The organization said this process aims to erase the Palestinian presence and transform the land into military zones that reinforce the unlawful Israeli presence imposed by force.
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor stated that these policies form part of a broader settler-colonial framework targeting both land and population. It argued that the military sites and the “Yellow Line” are tools used to isolate large parts of Gaza and place them under direct military control, leading to a de facto annexation.
The group said such actions violate the Geneva Conventions and the prohibition on acquiring territory by force under international law, in addition to undermining the principles of the United Nations Charter.
It warned that the creation of these sites appears designed to prevent Palestinians from returning to their areas, restrict access, and undermine basic living conditions. It stated that such actions might lead to geographic and demographic shifts as well as forced relocation.
Impact on civilians
Field documentation also pointed to repeated incidents of gunfire and tank shelling launched from these positions toward civilians, both near the “Yellow Line” and inside areas sheltering displaced people. The organization said the evidence demonstrates that the sites are used not only to control territory but also to threaten civilian life and target individuals during movement or while attempting to access aid.
The group highlighted the killing of Majdi Mustafa Ibrahim Aslan, a 52-year-old contractor working with the World Health Organization, who was shot on Monday, April 6, while traveling along Salah al-Din Road. It described the incident as a serious violation of protections afforded to civilians and humanitarian workers.
The statement further accused Israeli forces of using these military sites to provide cover for armed groups operating under their direction, while simultaneously targeting civilian police forces and weakening their ability to maintain order. This pattern, it said, has contributed to the collapse of local structures that ensure basic public security and created a deliberate security vacuum in densely populated civilian areas.
It warned that this pattern establishes a hybrid system of violence involving both an occupying power and non-state armed actors, complicating accountability and increasing the risk of impunity, while leaving civilians exposed to multiple sources of coercion and abuse.
Calls for international action
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor called on the international community to take immediate and effective action to halt ongoing violations in Gaza and reject any measures that could enforce forced demographic or geographic changes or fragment the territory.
It urged states to go beyond political condemnation and adopt concrete steps, including targeted sanctions and the suspension of any military, security, or logistical cooperation that could contribute to maintaining an unlawful situation.
The organization also called for Israel’s full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and all occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in line with rulings by the International Court of Justice and a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.
It further demanded the immediate lifting of the blockade on Gaza, the opening of crossings, and the guarantee of full, safe, and sustained humanitarian access, warning that restrictions on essential supplies and aid deepen the risks of forced displacement, hunger, and social collapse.
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