🔗 Share this article

Recent evidence suggest that Israel's military forces are exercising authority over more territory inside Gaza than previously expected under the ceasefire agreement.

The Ceasefire Deal and the Demarcation Boundary

Under the initial stage of the deal, Israeli authorities committed to withdraw to a boundary border running along the northern, southern, and eastern sides of the Gaza Strip. This divide was marked by a yellow marker on maps published by the military and has come to be referred to as the "Demarcation Line."

However, new footage and aerial images show that indicators placed by Israel's soldiers in two locations to designate the divide have been placed several hundreds of yards deeper within the strip than the expected pullback boundary.

Official Statements and Warnings

Israeli Defense Official the defense minister—which instructed soldiers to place the yellow markers—warned that individuals approaching the boundary "would be confronted with fire." There's been already been at least several deadly incidents close to the boundary zone.

Upon approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to the claims, saying simply that: "Israeli forces under the Southern Command have begun designating the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to establish operational clarity on the ground."

Lack of Precision and Confusion

There has been a consistent absence of precision about where exactly the demarcation would be imposed, with multiple separate maps posted by the White House, Donald Trump, and the Israeli defense forces in the lead-up to the ceasefire deal that took effect on October 10.

On October 14, the IDF issued the latest version marking the demarcation on their digital chart, which is employed to communicate its position to residents in the Gaza Strip.

Northern and Southern Areas

Near the northern sector, adjacent to the al-Atatra area, drone video from the Israeli military revealed that a line of six yellow markers were as much as over 500 meters deeper within the territory than would have been anticipated from the official charts.

Video verified showed workers using heavy machinery and diggers to move the large distinctive blocks and place them along the coastal al-Rashid road.

A similar situation was observed in southern Gaza, where a aerial photograph captured on October 19 showed ten indicators placed close to the city of Khan Younis. The line of blocks extends between 180 meters-290 meters inside the demarcation set out by the Israeli military.

Experts Analysis

Multiple experts indicated that the blocks were intended to create a "safety area" between Palestinians and Israeli personnel. One analyst said the action would be consistent with a long-term "strategic culture" that aims to insulate Israel from adjacent territories it doesn't completely administer.

"This provides the IDF space to manoeuvre and create a 'engagement area' targeting possible threats," Dr Andreas Krieg commented. "Potential targets can be engaged prior to they approach the IDF perimeter. It is a bit like unclaimed territory that doesn't belong to either side—and Israeli authorities often to take that territory from the adversary's chunk not its own."

Three analysts suggested that the difference between the indicators and the IDF chart was an intentional strategy to warn residents they are "entering an area of elevated danger."

Noam Ostfeld said that some markers "seem to be positioned near pathways or barriers, making them more straightforward to identify."

Civilian Uncertainty and Events

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

A resident living lives near the temporary boundary in the east part of Gaza City Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, notwithstanding assurances from Israel of visible markings, he had seen no such markers installed.

"Each day, we can observe Israel's military equipment and personnel at a fairly close range, but we have no way of determining whether we are in what is considered a 'secure area' or 'a hazardous location'," he said. "We are constantly vulnerable to danger, especially as we are compelled to remain here since this is where our residence once stood."

After the ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli military has reported a series of instances of individuals crossing the demarcation. On all instances the military stated it engaged those involved.

Video obtained and geolocated depicted the aftermath of one event on October 17, which the local Civil Defence authority claimed killed 11 civilians—including females and minors all reportedly from the same family. The agency said the Palestinians' car was targeted by Israel following crossing the Yellow Line east of the city in the Zeitoun area.

The video showed emergency personnel inspecting the burnt out remains of a vehicle and shrouding a adjacent badly-mangled body of a minor with a light-colored cloth. Geolocation located the footage to a spot approximately 125 meters beyond the demarcation marked on charts by the IDF.

The IDF stated alert shots were fired at a "suspicious vehicle" that had crossed the boundary. The announcement added after the car failed to stop, troops engaged "to remove the danger."

Legal Status and Responsibilities

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

"Israel's obligations under the regulations of armed conflict cannot end even for those breaching the demarcation," said a legal expert. "It can only target hostile fighters or those directly involved in conflict, and in such actions it must avoid inflict disproportionate civilian harm."

In a statement, an Israel's defense representative said: "Israeli forces under the military command continue to function to remove any threat to the personnel and to protect the residents of the State of Israel."

They added that the concrete markers are "positioned every 200 metres."

Background and Fatalities

Israeli authorities launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip