🔗 Share this article

Recent findings suggest that Israeli military forces are maintaining authority over more area within the Gaza Strip than previously anticipated under the truce deal.

The Truce Deal and the Demarcation Line

Under the first phase of the deal, Israel committed to withdraw to a demarcation line extending along the north, southern, and east edges of the Gaza Strip. The boundary was marked by a distinctive line on maps published by the military and has become known as the "Yellow Line."

However, recent videos and aerial photographs show that markers placed by Israel's troops in two locations to designate the boundary have been set hundreds of meters deeper inside the territory than the anticipated withdrawal boundary.

Official Statements and Warnings

Israel's Defense Official the defense minister—who ordered troops to place the yellow blocks—stated that anyone approaching the boundary "would be met with fire." There have already occurred at least several fatal events close to the demarcation line.

When contacted, the Israeli military failed to respond to the allegations, stating simply that: "IDF troops under the Southern Command have begun designating the Yellow Line in the Gaza to establish tactical understanding on the terrain."

Absence of Precision and Uncertainty

There's existed a ongoing absence of clarity regarding where exactly the boundary will be imposed, with multiple different charts published by the White House, Donald Trump, and the Israeli defense forces in the run up to the ceasefire deal that came into force on October 10.

On 14 October, the Israeli military issued the most recent edition showing the demarcation on their online map, which is used to communicate its position to people in the Gaza Strip.

North and South Gaza

Near the northern sector, adjacent to the al-Atatra area, aerial video from the Israeli military showed that a row of six distinctive blocks were as much as 520m deeper inside the Strip than would have been expected from the official maps.

Footage verified depicted workers using bulldozers and excavators to move the heavy distinctive markers and place them along the coastal al-Rashid route.

A comparable situation was observed in southern the Gaza Strip, where a satellite photograph taken on 19 October revealed ten indicators erected close to the urban area of Khan Younis. The line of markers ranges between 180 meters-290m inside the demarcation established by the IDF.

Experts Analysis

Multiple experts suggested that the blocks were intended to create a "safety area" between Palestinians and Israeli forces. One expert said the action would be consistent with a long-term "policy approach" that aims to insulate Israel from nearby territories it does not fully control.

"This provides the Israeli military space to manoeuvre and create a 'engagement area' targeting possible targets," Dr Andreas Krieg said. "Possible threats can be engaged before they reach the military perimeter. It is a somewhat like no man's land that doesn't belong to anyone—and Israel tends to acquire that land from the opponent's portion rather than its own."

Several analysts suggested that the disparity separating the indicators and the IDF map was an intentional design to alert residents they are "approaching an area of increased danger."

Noam Ostfeld noted that some markers "appear to be positioned near roads or barriers, rendering them easier to identify."

Resident Uncertainty and Events

There is already confusion among residents over locations where it is secure to travel.

A resident who resides near the temporary boundary in the eastern part of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, notwithstanding assurances from Israel of visible markings, he had seen none put in place.

"Each day, we can observe Israel's military equipment and soldiers at a fairly nearby distance, but we have no way of knowing whether we are in what is considered a 'safe zone' or 'an active danger zone'," he said. "We're constantly vulnerable to danger, especially since we are forced to stay in this location because this is where our residence previously existed."

Since the ceasefire was implemented, the IDF has documented a number of instances of individuals approaching the Yellow Line. On each occasions the military stated it fired upon those present.

Footage obtained and verified depicted the aftermath of one event on 17 October, which the Hamas-run emergency authority claimed resulted in the deaths of 11 civilians—comprising females and children reportedly allegedly from the same household. The authority said the local vehicle was attacked by Israel following crossing the Yellow Line to the east of the city in the Zeitoun area.

The footage showed rescue workers inspecting the destroyed remnants of a vehicle and shrouding a nearby badly-mangled body of a minor with a light-colored cloth. Verification placed the video to a spot approximately 125m beyond the demarcation indicated on charts by the IDF.

The IDF said warning shots were fired at a "suspicious car" that had crossed the boundary. The statement noted when the vehicle did not to stop, troops opened fire "to eliminate the danger."

Legal Status and Obligations

Meanwhile, the legal standing of the boundary has also been challenged.

"The state's responsibilities under the law of armed conflict do not end including for those violating the demarcation," commented a legal expert. "The military can only engage hostile fighters or those directly involved in conflict, and in so doing it must not inflict excessive civilian harm."

Officially, an Israeli defense spokesperson stated: "IDF troops under the military command persist to function to remove any threat to the personnel and to defend the residents of the nation of the country."

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

Background and Casualties

Israeli authorities launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip