Israel’s occupation of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria extends beyond what maps show

Israeli military control in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria extends beyond what official maps and statements indicate, according to an investigation by Al Jazeera's Digital Investigations Unit. The unit tracked discrepancies between declared borders and the actual military presence on the ground since October 7, 2023.

In Gaza, a "Yellow Line" was established on ceasefire agreement maps as the limit of Israeli control, covering an area of about 200 square kilometers. However, an analysis of satellite imagery and geolocation of yellow concrete markers revealed that these boundaries were often exceeded by hundreds of meters. This suggests a de facto expansion of Israeli military presence beyond the officially declared lines.

The investigation also examined military zones declared in southern Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement and observed fixed military outposts in southern Syria beyond the "Alpha Line" separating the occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria. By combining official Israeli army maps, satellite imagery, GIS calculations, and data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), Al Jazeera aimed to provide a clearer picture of the evolving situation on the ground.