🔗 Share this article

Recent findings suggest that Israeli military troops are exercising control over more territory inside the Gaza Strip than previously anticipated under the ceasefire deal.

This Ceasefire Agreement and the Yellow Boundary

According to the first stage of the deal, Israel agreed to withdraw to a demarcation line extending along the northern, south, and eastern sides of the Gaza Strip. This boundary was designated by a yellow marker on maps released by the military and has become referred to as the "Yellow Line."

But, recent videos and satellite photographs reveal that indicators positioned by Israeli troops in two locations to mark the boundary have been placed several hundreds of yards deeper inside the territory than the expected withdrawal line.

Government Comments and Advisories

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz—who ordered soldiers to position the distinctive blocks—stated that individuals crossing the line "will be confronted with gunfire." There have already been at least two fatal events near the demarcation zone.

Upon approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not address the allegations, stating simply that: "Israeli forces under the military command have begun designating the demarcation in the Gaza to establish operational clarity on the ground."

Absence of Clarity and Uncertainty

There's been a consistent lack of clarity regarding where precisely the demarcation would be imposed, with three separate charts posted by the U.S. administration, Donald Trump, and the Israel's military in the run up to the ceasefire deal that came into force on October 10.

As of October 14, the Israeli military released the most recent edition showing the Yellow Line on their online map, which is used to convey its position to people in the Gaza Strip.

North and South Gaza

In the north, adjacent to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, aerial video from the IDF revealed that a row of six yellow markers were as much as 520m further within the Strip than would have been anticipated from the IDF maps.

Video geolocated depicted workers operating heavy machinery and diggers to relocate the heavy yellow blocks and position them along the coastal al-Rashid road.

A similar scenario was visible in southern Gaza, where a aerial photograph captured on October 19 showed 10 markers erected near the urban area of Khan Younis. The line of markers ranges from 180m-290 meters inside the Yellow Line set out by the IDF.

Experts Interpretation

Multiple analysts indicated that the blocks were intended to create a "safety area" separating Palestinians and Israeli personnel. An expert said the action would be in line with a ongoing "strategic culture" that seeks to protect the state from nearby territories it does not completely administer.

"It gives the Israeli military room to operate and establish a 'engagement area' against possible threats," an analyst said. "Potential threats can be engaged before they reach the military perimeter. It is a bit like no man's land that doesn't belong to either side—and Israel tends to take that land from the adversary's chunk rather than its territory."

Several analysts proposed that the difference separating the indicators and the IDF chart was an intentional design to warn residents they are "entering an zone of elevated danger."

An analyst said that several markers "seem to be placed near pathways or barriers, rendering them more straightforward to spot."

Resident Confusion and Incidents

Exists already confusion within Gazans over locations where it is safe to travel.

A resident living lives near the interim boundary in the eastern section of Gaza City Shejaiya district stated that, notwithstanding assurances from Israel of visible indicators, he had seen no such markers installed.

"Each day, we can observe Israel's army vehicles and soldiers at a fairly close distance, but we have no way of determining whether we are in what is deemed a 'safe zone' or 'an active danger zone'," he said. "We are continually exposed to danger, particularly since we are compelled to remain here because this is where our residence previously existed."

Since the truce came into effect, the Israeli military has documented a series of cases of individuals crossing the demarcation. On all occasions the IDF said it engaged those present.

Video acquired and geolocated showed the consequences of one incident on October 17, which the Hamas-run Civil Defence authority claimed killed eleven non-combatants—comprising women and children all reportedly from the identical family. The authority said the Palestinians' car was attacked by Israel after crossing the demarcation east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The video showed emergency personnel inspecting the burnt out remnants of a car and shrouding a adjacent severely damaged body of a child with a white cloth. Verification located the footage to a spot around 125 meters over the Yellow Line indicated on charts by the IDF.

The IDF said alert shots were discharged towards a "suspect car" that had crossed the line. The announcement added after the car failed to stop, troops engaged "to remove the threat."

Legal Status and Responsibilities

Meanwhile, the legal status of the demarcation has also been questioned.

"Israel's obligations under the regulations of hostilities do not end even for those violating the Yellow Line," said a legal expert. "The military can solely target enemy fighters or those directly participating in conflict, and in so doing it has to not inflict disproportionate civilian casualties."

In a statement, an Israeli military representative stated: "IDF troops under the military command persist to function to remove any threat to the personnel and to defend the civilians of the State of Israel."

They further that the solid blocks are "being placed each 200 metres."

Background and Casualties

Israel initiated a defense campaign in Gaza