Satellite Photo Shows Israel Military Buildup Near Gaza
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New satellite imagery reveals a significant buildup of Israeli troops and military equipment near the Gaza border, signaling preparations for a major ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
The deployment comes after Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City, raising the stakes in an already volatile conflict and intensifying fears of a broader and more destructive escalation.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and Israel's Foreign Ministry.
Why It Matters
The buildup highlights an intensifying Israeli military posture amid a fragile and volatile situation in Gaza. Israel's plan to take over Gaza City likely will require a large-scale ground offensive that has alarmed stakeholders in the region.
The trajectory of the yearslong conflict now points to a potentially broader and more destructive phase, which could escalate humanitarian suffering and complicate diplomatic relations with Israel's allies including the United States.
Imagery dated August 7, 2025, and released by the Chinese satellite firm MizarVision shows the buildup of Israeli military forces at the Karni crossing near northeastern Gaza.
Imagery dated August 7, 2025, and released by the Chinese satellite firm MizarVision shows the buildup of Israeli military forces at the Karni crossing near northeastern Gaza.
MizarVision
What To Know
Imagery released this week by a Chinese satellite firm MizarVision showed a growing concentration of Israeli military hardware at the Karni crossing into northeastern Gaza on August 7. The photo appeared to show movements and formations that were consistent with preparations for a significant ground assault.
Israeli forces have been conducting ground operations in Gaza since late October 2023, after Hamas militants inflicted the deadliest attack on Israel in its history. There have been occasional pauses for ceasefires, but the new buildup shows Israel is gearing up to seize territory and target Hamas strongholds.
A Palestinian boy pushes a cart loaded with jerrycans of water after collecting it at a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
A Palestinian boy pushes a cart loaded with jerrycans of water after collecting it at a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo
Israel's Plan
Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City early Friday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. While the plan does not extend to full occupation of the Gaza Strip, it marks a strategic escalation aimed at weakening Hamas's hold over the area.
Israel closed the Karni crossing in 2011 and completed the final phase of demolition work in 2022. It had been a terminal for goods and humanitarian aid into Gaza but now forms part of the Iron Wall, further tightening the blockade around the small Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu has outlined a vision to dismantle Hamas and establish a security perimeter around Gaza rather than govern the enclave directly. Speaking on Fox News, Netanyahu said, "We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel."
Discord Between U.S. and Israel
The military buildup comes amid disagreements between the Israel and the its strongest international backer the United States. NBC News reported a recent private phone call between Netanyahu and Donald Trump, in which the U.S. president shouted at his Israeli counterpart over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the U.S.- and Israeli-supported relief initiative.
Officials familiar with the call described the tensions as emblematic of strained relations between the two governments at a critical moment in the conflict.
Trump has publicly contradicted Netanyahu's assurances about Gaza's humanitarian conditions. While Netanyahu has said there is no starvation in Gaza, Trump has stated otherwise.
What People Are Saying
Displaced Palestinians travel on carts and vehicles through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/)
Displaced Palestinians travel on carts and vehicles through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/)
Jehad Alshrafi/AP Photo
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel. That's what we want to do."
U.S. President Donald Trump: "I have seen images of children in Gaza who look very hungry. There is real starvation there and you can't fake that."
What Happens Next
With Israel's security cabinet approval and the confirmed troop buildup, the likelihood of a significant ground offensive in Gaza is increasing. The coming weeks could see intensified fighting, efforts to free hostages and mounting humanitarian challenges.
At the same time, the diplomatic strains between the U.S. and Israel may influence both military and relief operations.
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