Gaza Herald – The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has warned of a significant escalation in the Israeli army’s construction of fortified military positions inside the Gaza Strip, particularly near the so-called “Yellow Line,” which it says now isolates around 55% of Gaza’s territory under direct Israeli control.
In a statement issued Thursday, the organization said field monitoring shows a rapid expansion in fixed military installations close to Salah al-Din Street in eastern Gaza. These positions, built as earth berms and elevated sand fortifications, are reinforced with armored vehicles, watchtowers, communications systems, and logistical infrastructure.
According to the report, at least 20 such military sites have been established across eastern Gaza, reflecting what it describes as a systematic attempt to entrench long-term military control and reshape territorial realities on the ground, in contradiction with the expected withdrawal provisions of the ceasefire framework.
The Euro-Med Monitor also stated that these positions have been built on destroyed residential areas and agricultural land following large-scale demolition and bulldozing operations that altered the geography of entire neighborhoods.
It warned that the establishment of these sites risks consolidating a form of de facto annexation by physically separating large areas of Gaza, restricting civilian movement, and undermining territorial continuity.
The organization further reported repeated incidents of live fire and tank shelling from these positions toward civilians, including people moving along key routes or approaching humanitarian aid points. It cited cases of civilian casualties linked to fire originating from these military locations.
The statement argues that the ongoing military entrenchment, combined with movement restrictions, contributes to the fragmentation of Gaza and may facilitate forced displacement conditions, in violation of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations.
It urged international actors to pressure for the removal of these positions, full withdrawal from Gaza, immediate lifting of restrictions on movement and aid access, and accountability measures for violations of international law, including potential sanctions and suspension of military cooperation.
