White House Map Reveals Phased Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza Strip
A map published by the White House has unveiled the contours of the Trump administration's plan for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, according to a phased approach extending from the current situation to the establishment of a security zone under Israeli control along the strip's borders.
The map, released simultaneously with the launch of the plan on September 29, shows the division of the strip into zones of different colors representing the percentage of areas currently not under Israeli military presence and the areas from which forces are expected to withdraw in three successive phases.
According to the map, the areas currently considered "unoccupied" by the Israeli army account for only about 20% of the strip's territory. The plan begins with a first phase of withdrawal that increases this percentage to 45%, followed by a second phase where the withdrawal areas reach 63%, and then a third phase where they peak at 82% of the strip's territory.
This withdrawal trajectory extends progressively from the north of the strip to the south, passing through major centers such as Gaza City and Khan Younes, to reach Rafah, near the Egyptian border.
The map also indicates the existence of a security belt along the eastern border of the strip with Israel, estimated to be about 18% of the Gaza Strip's territory, which is expected to remain under direct Israeli control. The plan stipulates that this security presence will continue "until it is ensured that Gaza is safe from any new armed threat," in accordance with the description in the document accompanying the map.
In addition to determining the phases of withdrawal, the map highlights the distribution of the main population areas, including densely populated urban areas such as Gaza City in the north and Khan Younes in the center of the strip, as well as Rafah in the south, on the border with Egypt.
Although the map raises many questions about the applicability of this plan on the ground, it reveals an American design that shapes the future of the strip through a gradual withdrawal that maintains security control in the hands of Israel for a long period. In the absence of details on the implementation mechanisms or the position of Palestinian factions, the plan - as presented by the map - remains a theoretical framework that opens a wide debate on the security and governance prospects in Gaza for the next stage.
