🔗 Share this article

New evidence suggest that Israel's military forces are exercising authority over a larger territory inside Gaza than initially anticipated under the truce deal.

The Truce Deal and the Yellow Boundary

Under the initial stage of the agreement, Israeli authorities committed to withdraw to a boundary border extending along the north, southern, and east edges of Gaza. This divide was designated by a yellow marker on official charts released by the defense forces and has come to be known as the "Demarcation Line."

However, new videos and aerial photographs show that indicators positioned by Israeli soldiers in two locations to designate the boundary have been placed hundreds of meters deeper within the strip than the anticipated withdrawal line.

Government Statements and Warnings

Israel's Defence Minister the defense minister—who ordered troops to position the yellow markers—stated that individuals crossing the line "would be met with fire." There's been already been at minimum several deadly incidents near the boundary line.

When approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to the allegations, stating simply that: "IDF forces under the military command have started marking the Yellow Line in the Gaza to establish operational understanding on the terrain."

Absence of Precision and Confusion

There has existed a consistent absence of precision regarding the exact location precisely the boundary will be established, with multiple different charts posted by the U.S. administration, former U.S. President, and the Israel's military in the lead-up to the truce deal that took effect on October 10.

As of 14 October, the Israeli military released the most recent version showing the Yellow Line on their digital chart, which is employed to convey its stance to people in Gaza.

North and South Gaza

In the north, adjacent to the al-Atatra area, drone video from the Israeli military showed that a row of six distinctive blocks were as much as 520m deeper within the territory than would have been anticipated from the official charts.

Video geolocated depicted personnel operating heavy machinery and diggers to relocate the large distinctive blocks and position them along the coastal al-Rashid road.

A similar situation was observed in southern the Gaza Strip, where a aerial image captured on 19 October revealed 10 markers placed close to the city of Khan Younis. The row of blocks ranges between 180 meters-290 meters within the Yellow Line established by the Israeli military.

Analysts Interpretation

Multiple analysts indicated that the markers were intended to create a "safety area" separating local residents and Israeli forces. An expert said the action would be consistent with a ongoing "policy approach" that seeks to protect Israel from adjacent areas it doesn't fully control.

"It provides the Israeli military space to manoeuvre and create a 'engagement area' against potential threats," Dr Andreas Krieg commented. "Possible threats can be engaged prior to they approach the military boundary. It is a somewhat like unclaimed territory that doesn't pertain to either side—and Israel tends to acquire that land from the opponent's portion rather than its own."

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

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

Resident Uncertainty and Events

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

A resident living resides close to the temporary boundary in the eastern section of Gaza City Shejaiya district said that, notwithstanding promises from Israel of visible indicators, he had seen no such markers installed.

"Each day, we can see Israeli army equipment and personnel at a fairly nearby range, yet we have no means of knowing whether we are in what is deemed a 'safe zone' or 'an active danger zone'," he said. "We're continually exposed to risk, especially since we are forced to stay here since this is where our home once existed."

Since the ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli military has documented a series of instances of people crossing the Yellow Line. On all instances the IDF said it engaged those involved.

Video acquired and verified showed the consequences of a event on 17 October, which the local Civil Defence agency said killed 11 non-combatants—including females and minors reportedly allegedly from the same household. The agency said the Palestinians' vehicle was targeted by Israel following approaching the demarcation to the east of the city in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The video showed rescue personnel examining the destroyed remains of a vehicle and covering a adjacent severely damaged remains of a minor with a light-colored cloth. Verification placed the video to a location approximately 125 meters over the demarcation indicated on charts by the Israeli military.

The Israeli military said warning shots were discharged towards a "suspect vehicle" that had breached the boundary. The announcement added after the car did not to stop, soldiers opened fire "to eliminate the danger."

Juridical Status and Obligations

At the same time, the juridical status of the demarcation has also been challenged.

"The state's obligations under the law of hostilities do not cease even for those violating the Yellow Line," commented a legal expert. "The military can solely engage enemy fighters or those actively participating in conflict, and in such actions it has to avoid cause disproportionate non-combatant harm."

Officially, an Israel's defense spokesperson said: "Israeli troops under the military command persist to operate to remove every threat to the troops and to defend the residents of the nation of Israel."

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

Context and Fatalities

Israeli authorities initiated a defense campaign in the Gaza Strip