🔗 Share this article

New findings suggest that Israeli military forces are maintaining control over a larger area inside Gaza than initially anticipated under the truce deal.

This Truce Agreement and the Yellow Boundary

According to the first phase of the deal, Israel agreed to retreat to a demarcation line extending along the north, south, and east edges of the Gaza Strip. The boundary was designated by a distinctive marker on maps released by the defense forces and has become referred to as the "Yellow Line."

However, recent footage and aerial images reveal that markers placed by Israel's troops in two locations to designate the divide have been placed hundreds of yards deeper within the strip than the anticipated pullback line.

Official Comments and Warnings

Israeli Defense Official Israel Katz—which instructed troops to position the distinctive markers—warned that individuals approaching the boundary "will be confronted with gunfire." There have already been at least several deadly events near the demarcation zone.

When approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to the claims, saying only that: "IDF forces under the Southern Command have begun marking the demarcation in the Gaza to establish tactical understanding on the ground."

Absence of Precision and Confusion

There has been a consistent lack of clarity regarding where precisely the boundary will be established, with multiple separate maps posted by the White House, former U.S. President, and the Israeli defense forces in the lead-up to the truce deal that took effect on 10 October.

As of October 14, the Israeli military released the most recent version showing the Yellow Line on their digital map, which is used to communicate its position to residents in the Gaza Strip.

Northern and South Gaza

In the north, close to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, drone footage from the Israeli military revealed that a row of several yellow markers were as much as over 500 meters further within the territory than would have been expected from the official charts.

Footage geolocated showed personnel operating bulldozers and diggers to relocate the heavy yellow blocks and place them along the coastal al-Rashid route.

A similar scenario was visible in southern the Gaza Strip, where a aerial image captured on October 19 showed ten markers placed near the city of Khan Younis. The line of blocks ranges from 180 meters-290m inside the demarcation established by the IDF.

Experts Analysis

Several analysts indicated that the blocks were intended to create a "buffer zone" between Palestinians and Israeli personnel. One analyst said the action would be in line with a long-term "policy approach" that seeks to protect the state from adjacent areas it doesn't completely control.

"It gives the Israeli military room to operate and create a 'kill zone' against potential targets," Dr Andreas Krieg commented. "Potential targets can be targeted prior to they approach the military perimeter. It is a somewhat like no man's land that does not pertain to either side—and Israel often to take that land from the opponent's chunk rather than its own."

Three experts proposed that the difference separating the markers and the official chart was an intentional design to alert civilians they are "entering an area of increased risk."

Noam Ostfeld said that several markers "seem to be placed close to pathways or barriers, making them more straightforward to spot."

Resident Confusion and Incidents

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

A resident who lives close to the interim boundary in the east part of Gaza City's Shejaiya district said that, despite promises from Israel of visible markings, he had observed no such markers put in place.

"Daily, we can observe Israel's army vehicles and personnel at a fairly nearby range, but we have no means of knowing whether we are in what is deemed a 'secure area' or 'a hazardous location'," he explained. "We are continually exposed to risk, especially since we are compelled to stay in this location since this is where our residence once existed."

Since the ceasefire was implemented, the Israeli military has documented a series of cases of people crossing the Yellow Line. On each instances the military said it fired upon those involved.

Footage acquired and verified depicted the consequences of a incident on 17 October, which the local Civil Defence agency said killed eleven non-combatants—comprising women and children all reportedly from the same family. The authority stated the local car was attacked by Israel following approaching the Yellow Line east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The footage displayed emergency workers inspecting the destroyed remains of a vehicle and covering a adjacent severely damaged remains of a child with a white cloth. Geolocation placed the video to a location approximately 125m over the Yellow Line indicated on maps by the Israeli military.

The IDF stated alert rounds were fired at a "suspect car" that had breached the line. The statement noted when the car did not to halt, troops opened fire "to eliminate the threat."

Juridical Standing and Responsibilities

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

"Israel's responsibilities under the law of armed conflict cannot cease even for those violating the Yellow Line," said Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne. "The military can only engage enemy combatants or those directly participating in hostilities, and in so doing it must not inflict disproportionate civilian harm."

In a statement, an Israeli military spokesperson said: "Israeli forces under the Southern Command continue to operate to eliminate every danger to the troops and to defend the residents of the nation of the country."

The spokesperson further that the solid markers are "positioned each 200 metres."

Context and Fatalities

Israel initiated a defense operation in the Gaza Strip