🔗 Share this article

New findings suggest that Israeli defense forces are maintaining authority over more area within Gaza than initially expected under the ceasefire agreement.

This Truce Deal and the Yellow Boundary

According to the initial phase of the agreement, Israel committed to retreat to a boundary border extending along the northern, south, and east sides of the Gaza Strip. The divide was designated by a yellow line on maps published by the defense forces and has become referred to as the "Yellow Line."

However, recent videos and aerial images show that indicators placed by Israeli troops in two locations to mark the divide have been placed hundreds of meters further inside the strip than the expected withdrawal boundary.

Official Comments and Advisories

Israeli Defense Official Israel Katz—who instructed soldiers to position the yellow blocks—stated that anyone approaching the boundary "will be met with gunfire." There's been already occurred at minimum two deadly events near the demarcation zone.

Upon approached, the Israeli military did not respond to the claims, saying simply that: "IDF forces under the military command have begun designating the demarcation in the Gaza to create tactical clarity on the ground."

Lack of Precision and Confusion

There's existed a ongoing absence of clarity about where exactly the demarcation will be imposed, with three different charts published by the U.S. administration, Donald Trump, and the Israeli defense forces in the run up to the truce agreement that came into force on October 10.

On 14 October, the Israeli military released the most recent version marking the demarcation on their online map, which is used to convey its position to residents in the Gaza Strip.

North and South Gaza

In the north, close to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, drone video from the IDF revealed that a row of six yellow blocks were up to 520m deeper inside the territory than would have been anticipated from the official charts.

Footage geolocated depicted personnel using bulldozers and diggers to relocate the large yellow markers and position them along the seaside al-Rashid route.

A similar situation was observed in the south of Gaza, where a aerial photograph captured on 19 October showed ten markers erected close to the city of Khan Younis. The line of blocks extends between 180 meters-290 meters inside the demarcation set out by the IDF.

Experts Analysis

Several analysts suggested that the blocks were intended to establish a "safety area" separating local residents and IDF personnel. An expert stated the move would be in line with a long-term "policy approach" that aims to insulate the state from nearby territories it doesn't fully administer.

"It gives the IDF room to manoeuvre and create a 'kill zone' targeting possible targets," Dr Andreas Krieg said. "Potential threats can be engaged before they approach the military perimeter. It is a somewhat like no man's land that doesn't pertain to anyone—and Israeli authorities often to acquire that land from the opponent's portion not its territory."

Three experts proposed that the disparity between the markers and the official chart was an deliberate strategy to alert civilians they are "approaching an area of elevated risk."

Noam Ostfeld said that several blocks "appear to be positioned near pathways or walls, rendering them easier to identify."

Resident Confusion and Events

Exists already uncertainty within Gazans over areas where it is safe to go.

Abdel Qader Ayman Bakr living resides near the temporary boundary in the eastern part of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, notwithstanding assurances from Israel of visible indicators, he had observed no such markers installed.

"Each day, we can observe Israel's army vehicles and personnel at a relatively nearby distance, yet we have no means of determining whether we are in what is considered a 'safe zone' or 'an active danger zone'," he explained. "We are constantly exposed to risk, especially since we are forced to remain here since this is where our home previously stood."

After the truce came into effect, the IDF has documented a number of instances of individuals approaching the demarcation. On each instances the military stated it fired upon those involved.

Video acquired and geolocated depicted the consequences of a incident on October 17, which the local Civil Defence authority said resulted in the deaths of eleven non-combatants—comprising women and minors reportedly allegedly from the identical family. The authority stated the Palestinians' vehicle was targeted by Israeli forces following approaching the Yellow Line to the east of the city in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The footage showed rescue personnel inspecting the burnt out remnants of a car and covering a nearby severely damaged remains of a child with a light-colored sheet. Geolocation located the footage to a location approximately 125m beyond the Yellow Line indicated on maps by the IDF.

The IDF stated warning shots were fired at a "suspect vehicle" that had breached the boundary. The statement noted after the car failed to stop, troops opened fire "to eliminate the danger."

Juridical Status and Obligations

At the same time, the legal status of the demarcation has also been questioned.

"Israel's obligations under the law of hostilities cannot cease even for those violating the Yellow Line," said Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne. "It can solely engage hostile combatants or those actively involved in hostilities, and in so doing it must not cause excessive non-combatant casualties."

Officially, an Israel's defense representative stated: "Israeli troops under the Southern Command persist to function to eliminate every danger to the troops and to defend the civilians of the nation of Israel."

The spokesperson added that the solid markers are "being placed every 200 meters."

Context and Casualties

Israel launched a military campaign in the Gaza Strip