🔗 Share this article

New findings indicate that Israel's military troops are exercising authority over more territory inside the Gaza Strip than previously expected under the truce agreement.

This Truce Deal and the Yellow Line

Under the first stage of the deal, Israeli authorities committed to withdraw to a demarcation border running along the northern, southern, and eastern edges of the Gaza Strip. This boundary was marked by a distinctive marker on maps released by the defense forces and has come to be referred to as the "Demarcation Line."

But, new footage and aerial photographs reveal that indicators positioned by Israeli troops in several areas to mark the divide have been set several hundreds of yards deeper within the strip than the anticipated withdrawal line.

Government Comments and Warnings

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz—which ordered soldiers to position the yellow blocks—warned that individuals approaching the line "will be confronted with gunfire." There's been already been at least two fatal incidents near the boundary zone.

Upon contacted, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) failed to respond to the claims, saying simply that: "IDF troops under the Southern Command have begun designating the demarcation in the Gaza Strip to establish operational understanding on the ground."

Lack of Clarity and Confusion

There's been a consistent absence of clarity regarding 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 Israel's defense forces in the run up to the ceasefire deal that took effect on 10 October.

On 14 October, the IDF issued the most recent version marking the demarcation on their online map, which is employed to communicate its stance to residents in Gaza.

Northern and Southern Gaza

In the north, close to the al-Atatra area, drone footage from the Israeli military revealed that a line of six distinctive markers were up to over 500 meters further inside the Strip than would have been expected from the IDF charts.

Video verified depicted personnel operating bulldozers and excavators to move the heavy yellow markers and position them along the coastal al-Rashid route.

A similar situation was observed in southern the Gaza Strip, where a satellite image captured on 19 October showed 10 markers placed close to the city of Khan Younis. The line of markers ranges from 180 meters-290m inside the demarcation set out by the IDF.

Experts Interpretation

Several experts indicated that the blocks were intended to create a "safety area" between local residents and IDF forces. One expert said the action would be in line with a ongoing "policy approach" that aims to insulate Israel from nearby areas it does not completely control.

"This gives the Israeli military room to operate and establish a 'engagement area' against possible threats," Dr Andreas Krieg said. "Possible targets can be targeted prior to they reach the IDF boundary. It is a bit like unclaimed territory that does not belong to either side—and Israel tends to acquire that territory from the opponent's portion rather than its own."

Three experts proposed that the difference separating the markers and the official chart was an intentional strategy to warn civilians they are "approaching an zone of elevated risk."

Noam Ostfeld noted that some blocks "appear to be positioned near pathways or walls, making them easier to spot."

Civilian Uncertainty and Events

There is already uncertainty within residents over areas where it is safe to travel.

Abdel Qader Ayman Bakr who lives near the interim demarcation in the eastern section of Gaza City Shejaiya neighbourhood stated that, notwithstanding assurances from Israeli authorities of clear markings, he had observed no such markers put in place.

"Daily, we can see Israeli 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 'an active danger zone'," he explained. "We are continually exposed to danger, especially since we are compelled to stay in this location because this is where our residence once stood."

Since the ceasefire was implemented, the IDF has documented a number of cases of people crossing the demarcation. On each occasions the IDF said it engaged those present.

Footage obtained and verified showed the consequences of a incident on 17 October, which the Hamas-run emergency agency said resulted in the deaths of 11 civilians—comprising females and children reportedly allegedly from the same family. The authority said the local vehicle was attacked by Israel after crossing the demarcation to the east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun area.

The video showed emergency personnel examining the burnt out remnants of a vehicle and shrouding a nearby badly-mangled body of a child with a light-colored sheet. Geolocation located the footage to a location around 125m beyond the Yellow Line indicated on maps by the IDF.

The Israeli military said alert shots were discharged at a "suspicious vehicle" that had breached the boundary. The announcement noted when the car did not to halt, soldiers opened fire "to remove the danger."

Legal Status and Responsibilities

Meanwhile, the juridical standing of the demarcation has also been challenged.

"The state's obligations under the regulations of armed conflict cannot end even for those breaching the demarcation," commented a legal expert. "The military can only target enemy fighters or those actively participating in conflict, and in so doing it must not inflict excessive non-combatant casualties."

Officially, an Israeli defense spokesperson said: "Israeli troops under the Southern Command persist to function to eliminate every threat to the troops and to defend the residents of the State of the country."

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

Background and Casualties

Israeli authorities initiated a defense operation in Gaza