🔗 Share this article

New evidence indicate that Israeli military forces are maintaining authority over a larger territory inside the Gaza Strip than initially expected under the truce agreement.

This Ceasefire Deal and the Yellow Boundary

Under the initial stage of the agreement, Israel agreed to retreat to a demarcation line extending along the northern, south, and east edges of Gaza. This boundary was designated by a distinctive line on maps released by the defense forces and has become referred to as the "Demarcation Line."

However, new videos and aerial photographs show that indicators positioned by Israel's troops in two areas to designate the boundary have been placed hundreds of meters deeper inside the strip than the expected withdrawal boundary.

Government Statements and Advisories

Israeli Defence Official the defense minister—which instructed soldiers to position the yellow blocks—warned that individuals crossing the line "would be confronted with gunfire." There's been already been at minimum two deadly incidents close to the demarcation zone.

When approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) failed to address the claims, stating simply that: "Israeli forces under the military command have begun designating the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to create tactical understanding on the terrain."

Lack of Clarity and Confusion

There's been a ongoing lack of clarity about the exact location precisely the demarcation would be established, with three different maps published by the U.S. administration, former U.S. President, and the Israeli defense forces in the lead-up to the truce agreement that took effect on October 10.

As of 14 October, the IDF issued the most recent edition marking the Yellow Line on their online map, which is used to communicate its stance to people in the Gaza Strip.

Northern and Southern Areas

Near the northern sector, close to the al-Atatra area, drone footage from the Israeli military revealed that a row of six distinctive markers were as much as 520m further within the Strip than would have been anticipated from the IDF charts.

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

A similar scenario was observed in the south of Gaza, where a satellite photograph captured on October 19 revealed ten markers erected close to the urban area of Khan Younis. The line of markers extends from 180m-290m inside the demarcation set out by the IDF.

Analysts Analysis

Multiple analysts indicated that the blocks were designed to create a "safety area" between local residents and Israeli personnel. An analyst stated the action would be consistent with a long-term "strategic culture" that seeks to insulate Israel from adjacent territories it does not fully administer.

"This gives the Israeli military room to operate and create a 'engagement area' targeting potential targets," an analyst commented. "Potential threats can be engaged prior to they approach the IDF perimeter. It is a somewhat like unclaimed territory that does not pertain to either side—and Israel often to take that territory from the opponent's portion not its territory."

Several analysts proposed that the difference separating the markers and the IDF chart was an intentional strategy to warn civilians they are "entering an zone of elevated risk."

Noam Ostfeld said that some blocks "appear to be placed near roads or walls, making them more straightforward to identify."

Civilian Confusion and Incidents

Exists already confusion among residents over areas where it is safe to travel.

A resident who resides near the temporary demarcation in the east section of Gaza City Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, despite assurances from Israeli authorities of visible indicators, he had seen none put in place.

"Daily, we can observe Israel's military equipment and personnel at a fairly close range, yet we have no way of determining whether we are in what is deemed a 'safe zone' or 'a hazardous location'," he said. "We are continually exposed to danger, particularly as we are compelled to remain in this location since this is where our residence once stood."

Since the ceasefire came into effect, the IDF has reported a number of instances of individuals approaching the Yellow Line. On all instances the IDF said it fired upon those present.

Footage obtained and verified showed the aftermath of one incident on 17 October, which the local Civil Defence authority claimed killed eleven civilians—comprising females and minors all reportedly from the same household. The authority stated the local car was attacked by Israeli forces following crossing the Yellow Line to the east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The video displayed rescue workers examining the burnt out remains of a car and covering a nearby badly-mangled remains of a minor with a white cloth. Geolocation placed the video to a spot around 125 meters beyond the Yellow Line marked on charts by the Israeli military.

The Israeli military said warning rounds were fired towards a "suspicious car" that had crossed the boundary. The announcement noted when the car failed to stop, soldiers engaged "to remove the danger."

Juridical Status and Obligations

At the same time, the juridical status of the boundary has likewise been challenged.

"The state's responsibilities under the regulations of armed conflict do not end even for those violating the Yellow Line," commented a legal expert. "It can solely target hostile fighters or those actively participating in conflict, and in so doing it has to not cause excessive non-combatant harm."

Officially, an Israeli military spokesperson stated: "IDF troops under the military command persist to operate to remove every danger to the troops and to defend the civilians of the State of the country."

The spokesperson further that the concrete blocks are "being placed each 200 metres."

Context and Casualties

Israel launched a defense operation in the Gaza Strip