Israel's plan to create a "buffer zone" inside Gaza along its border with Israel would capture 16% of the territory of the Strip, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing an analysis of the operation by Udi Ben-Nun, a professor of geography at Hebrew University.

Israel has begun the process of rebuilding the area, which includes demolishing Palestinian homes and agricultural land that obstructs the road. The buffer zone will be about 1 km (0.6 miles) wide.

Israeli media reported last January that Israel destroyed 1,100 buildings out of 2,800 buildings in the border areas. In the same month, 21 Israeli soldiers were killed while working to demolish a building after a Palestinian resistance missile detonated explosives planted by Israeli occupation army soldiers.

The Israeli army insists that it needs to create a buffer zone to prevent future attacks similar to what happened on October 7. But the plan also reinforces Israel's land grab in Gaza, and many Israeli government ministers favor re-establishing Jewish settlements in the Strip.

In addition to the buffer zone on the border, Israel is also building a road that will divide the Gaza Strip into two parts.

Israel claims that it does not seek to occupy Gaza, but rather wants to maintain open security control over the Strip, which is not possible without some form of occupation.

The Biden administration claims that it opposes any Israeli plans that would reduce the territory of Gaza. But the United States continues to provide unconditional military aid to Israel while devising a plan to steal 16% of Gaza.

The Israeli army insists that it needs to create a buffer zone to prevent future attacks similar to what happened on October 7. But the plan also reinforces Israel's land grab in Gaza, and many Israeli government ministers favor re-establishing Jewish settlements in the Strip.