In the six weeks since "Israel" resumed its Gaza offensive, approximately 70% of the enclave has been designated a military “red zone” or evacuation area, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into increasingly overcrowded and unsafe areas, The Washington Post reported.

The Israeli military states that evacuation orders are intended to allow civilians to leave before combat operations begin, warning that those who remain may be treated as combatants; however, Palestinian residents and humanitarian organizations confirm that these orders often compel people to flee under direct fire.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), recent evacuation orders affecting major population centers and border regions have displaced more than 420,000 people.

These orders come amid a renewed and intensified phase of the aggression that "Israel" renewed on March 18, reneging on the ceasefire agreement.

Expansion of the 'security zone' and buffer zones

As part of its military campaign, "Israel" has significantly expanded what it refers to as the “security zone” along the borders of Gaza with both "Israel" and Egypt.

While the Israeli military claims that this buffer zone is essential to prevent future operations similar to the 2023's Al-Aqsa Flood, this expansion has resulted in extensive territorial shifts, effectively transforming large swathes of Gaza into inaccessible “no-go zones".

Israeli moves signal long-term occupation

The most notable development is in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza adjacent to Egypt.

Last month, Palestinians were ordered to evacuate the area as Israeli troops advanced, pushing deeper into the Gaza buffer zone.

The Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, forms part of this expanded zone, with new military deployments now extending northward to Khan Younis and through what "Israel" has labeled the Morag Corridor.

The Post said that recent developments indicate that "Israel" may be moving toward a long-term occupation, as officials have not signaled any intention to withdraw from these areas.

According to the rights group Gisha, the initial buffer zone, created under earlier ceasefire agreements, extended 700 to 1,000 meters into Gaza and covered about 17% of the territory, as Palestinians remain prohibited from returning to this land.

Humanitarian consequences, legal concerns

The expansion of buffer zones in Gaza has intensified the humanitarian crisis, with OCHA saying that many of the newly designated evacuation areas contain critical infrastructure, including nearly half of Gaza’s water wells, along with medical facilities and essential services.

Civilians in some red zones have been unable or unwilling to evacuate, leaving them vulnerable amid ongoing attacks.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that these displacements, coupled with the near-total siege "Israel" has imposed for nearly two months, have severely restricted access to aid and land for thousands of Palestinians. Aid groups report widespread shortages of food, clean water, and medical care.

Earlier in the conflict, Israeli forces also demolished buildings and agricultural fields to create the initial buffer zone.

Violations of international law

Israeli officials claimed this was necessary to destroy Hamas tunnels and reduce future threats, but legal experts have criticized these actions, saying they likely constitute violations of international law, particularly due to the scale of forced displacement and destruction of civilian property.

While "Israel's" leaders insist that the expansion of the buffer zones is crucial for "national security" and to pressure Hamas to release Israeli captives, the move has also raised fears that it signals a longer-term shift in the occupation and control of Gaza.