Israel creates buffer zone on border with Gaza Strip Negotiations with US in sight

The Israel Defence Forces is creating a security buffer zone on the border with the Gaza Strip which may take up about 16 per cent of the embattled enclave’s territory, according to Haaretz.

The newspaper reports that the zone will be about 1 km wide with all buildings in that area being dismantled, according to satellite images.

Additionally, the news outlet said that Israel plans to split the enclave into two parts, the northern and the southern one. Toward this end, the Israelis are creating another special buffer zone, known as the Netzarim Corridor, to control civilian traffic. In that area, the width of the Gaza Strip will amount to merely 5.5 km when the buffer zone along the border is created.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that negotiations between the United States and Israel over a possible Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza town of Rafah could take place in Washington on April 1.

The proposal to reschedule the previously cancelled talks for Monday came from the Israeli delegation. However, the date has not yet been set.

On the eve of the talks, Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing sources, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had informed members of the military cabinet of the Israeli delegation's plans to travel to Washington next week.

On March 19, the newspaper reported that at the request of US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu would send Israeli Minister of Strategic Planning Ron Dermer and National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi to Washington to discuss issues related to the expected military operation in Rafah. On March 25, Netanyahu decided not to send an Israeli delegation to the US after Washington failed to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the month of Ramadan without the mandatory release of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave.

Netanyahu said on March 27 that his decision to cancelling delegation's trip to the US for consultations on Gaza was a signal to the radical Palestinian movement Hamas that Israel would not bow to pressure in the face of the UN Security Council's approval of a ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli prime minister, the US decision "encouraged Hamas to take a tough stance [in the negotiations] and to believe that international pressure would prevent Israel from releasing the hostages and destroying Hamas".