🔗 Share this article

Recent findings suggest that Israel's military forces are maintaining control over more area within the Gaza Strip than previously expected under the truce agreement.

This Ceasefire Deal and the Yellow Boundary

Under the first stage of the agreement, Israel committed to withdraw to a boundary line extending along the northern, southern, and eastern edges of the Gaza Strip. This divide was marked by a distinctive marker on maps published by the military and has become referred to as the "Demarcation Line."

But, new videos and satellite photographs reveal that markers positioned by Israeli troops in several areas to designate the divide have been placed several hundreds of meters deeper inside the territory than the expected pullback line.

Government Comments and Advisories

Israeli Defence Minister the defense minister—which instructed soldiers to place the yellow blocks—warned that anyone approaching the boundary "will be confronted with gunfire." There have already been at least two fatal events close to the demarcation zone.

When contacted, the Israeli military failed to respond to the claims, stating simply that: "IDF forces under the military command have started designating the demarcation in the Gaza Strip to create operational understanding on the ground."

Lack of Clarity and Confusion

There's been a consistent absence of clarity regarding where exactly the demarcation will be imposed, with three separate charts published by the White House, former U.S. President, and the Israel's military in the run up to the ceasefire deal that took effect on October 10.

As of 14 October, the Israeli military issued the latest version marking the Yellow Line on their online chart, which is employed to communicate its position to people in Gaza.

North and South Gaza

In the north, adjacent to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, aerial video from the Israeli military showed that a row of six distinctive markers were up to over 500 meters deeper within the territory than was expected from the official maps.

Video verified showed personnel using bulldozers and excavators to move the heavy distinctive blocks and place them along the coastal al-Rashid route.

A comparable situation was observed in the south of the Gaza Strip, where a aerial photograph captured on 19 October revealed ten markers erected close to the urban area of Khan Younis. The row of markers extends from 180m-290 meters inside the Yellow Line set out by the IDF.

Experts Analysis

Multiple experts suggested that the markers were intended to create a "safety area" separating Palestinians and IDF forces. One expert said the move would be in line with a ongoing "policy approach" that aims to protect the state from adjacent territories it does not completely administer.

"It gives the Israeli military room to manoeuvre and create a 'kill zone' targeting possible threats," an analyst said. "Potential targets can be engaged prior to they reach the military boundary. It is a somewhat like no man's land that does not belong to anyone—and Israel tends to acquire that territory from the opponent's portion rather than its own."

Three analysts suggested that the disparity between the indicators and the IDF map was an deliberate strategy to alert residents they are "approaching an area of increased danger."

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

Civilian Uncertainty and Events

There is already uncertainty within residents over areas where it is secure to go.

A resident living resides near the temporary boundary in the eastern section of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood stated that, despite assurances from Israel of clear markings, he had seen none put in place.

"Daily, we can see Israeli army vehicles and personnel at a relatively nearby range, but we have no way of knowing whether we are in what is deemed a 'safe zone' or 'an active danger zone'," he explained. "We are continually exposed to danger, especially as we are compelled to remain in this location because this is where our home previously stood."

After the ceasefire came into effect, the IDF has documented a series of cases of people approaching the Yellow Line. On each instances the IDF stated it fired upon those present.

Footage acquired and verified depicted the consequences of one event on October 17, which the local Civil Defence agency said resulted in the deaths of eleven civilians—including females and minors reportedly allegedly from the identical family. The authority said the Palestinians' vehicle was targeted by Israeli forces after approaching the demarcation east of the city in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The video showed emergency workers examining the burnt out remains of a car and shrouding a nearby badly-mangled remains of a child with a white sheet. Geolocation located the video to a spot around 125m over the Yellow Line indicated on charts by the IDF.

The IDF stated warning shots were discharged towards a "suspect vehicle" that had crossed the line. The statement noted when the vehicle did not to halt, troops opened fire "to remove the danger."

Juridical Standing and Obligations

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

"The state's responsibilities under the law of armed conflict cannot end even for those breaching the Yellow Line," said a legal expert. "The military can only engage hostile combatants or those directly participating in hostilities, and in so doing it must not cause excessive non-combatant harm."

Officially, an Israeli military representative stated: "IDF forces under the military command continue to operate to remove any danger to the personnel and to protect the civilians of the State of Israel."

They added that the solid markers are "being placed each 200 metres."

Context and Casualties

Israeli authorities launched a defense campaign in the Gaza Strip