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New findings indicate that Israel's military forces are exercising authority over a larger area within the Gaza Strip than initially anticipated under the truce agreement.

The Truce Deal and the Demarcation Line

According to the first stage of the deal, Israel committed to retreat to a boundary border running along the northern, southern, and eastern sides of the Gaza Strip. This divide was marked by a distinctive marker on maps released by the military and has become referred to as the "Yellow Line."

But, recent videos and aerial photographs show that indicators positioned by Israel's soldiers in two areas to designate the divide have been placed hundreds of meters deeper inside the strip than the anticipated pullback boundary.

Government Comments and Advisories

Israel's Defense Official Israel Katz—who instructed troops to position the yellow markers—warned that individuals crossing the boundary "will be met with fire." There have already been at least several deadly events near the demarcation line.

Upon contacted, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not address the claims, saying only that: "Israeli troops under the military command have begun designating the demarcation in the Gaza Strip to create tactical clarity on the ground."

Absence of Clarity and Confusion

There's existed a ongoing lack of precision regarding where exactly the demarcation would be established, with multiple different charts published by the U.S. administration, former U.S. President, and the Israeli defense forces in the run up to the ceasefire agreement that took effect on 10 October.

On 14 October, the IDF issued the most recent edition showing the demarcation on their digital map, which is employed to communicate its stance to people in Gaza.

North and Southern Gaza

In the north, close to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, drone video from the IDF showed that a line of six distinctive markers were as much as 520m deeper within the Strip than would have been anticipated from the IDF charts.

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

A similar situation was visible in southern the Gaza Strip, where a satellite image taken on 19 October revealed ten markers erected close to the urban area of Khan Younis. The line of blocks ranges between 180 meters-290m inside the demarcation set out by the IDF.

Analysts Analysis

Several analysts suggested that the blocks were intended to create a "safety area" separating Palestinians and Israeli personnel. One analyst stated the action would be consistent with a long-term "policy approach" that seeks to protect Israel from nearby areas it does not fully control.

"This provides the IDF room to manoeuvre and establish a 'kill zone' against possible targets," an analyst commented. "Possible threats can be targeted prior to they approach the military boundary. It is a bit like no man's land that does not pertain to either side—and Israel tends to acquire that land from the opponent's portion not its territory."

Three analysts suggested that the difference separating the markers and the official map was an intentional design to warn residents they are "entering an zone of elevated danger."

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

Civilian Confusion and Incidents

There is already confusion among Gazans over locations where it is secure to go.

Abdel Qader Ayman Bakr living resides close to the interim demarcation in the eastern part of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, despite assurances from Israel of visible markings, he had observed none put in place.

"Daily, we can see Israel's army vehicles and soldiers at a fairly close distance, yet we have no way of determining whether we are in what is deemed a 'safe zone' or 'a hazardous location'," he said. "We're continually exposed to danger, especially as we are forced to stay here since this is where our home once existed."

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

Video acquired and geolocated showed the consequences of one event on October 17, which the Hamas-run emergency agency claimed killed eleven civilians—comprising females and children reportedly allegedly from the identical household. The authority said the local car was attacked by Israel following approaching the demarcation east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun area.

The footage showed rescue workers examining the burnt out remnants of a vehicle and covering a nearby severely damaged body of a child with a light-colored sheet. Geolocation located the footage to a spot around 125m over the demarcation marked on charts by the Israeli military.

The IDF stated alert shots were discharged towards a "suspicious vehicle" that had crossed the boundary. The statement added when the vehicle failed to stop, soldiers opened fire "to remove the danger."

Legal Standing and Obligations

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

"The state's responsibilities under the law of hostilities cannot cease including for those breaching the Yellow Line," commented a legal expert. "The military can solely target hostile combatants or those actively participating in conflict, and in so doing it has to not cause excessive civilian casualties."

Officially, an Israel's military spokesperson stated: "IDF forces under the Southern Command continue to operate to eliminate any threat to the personnel and to defend the civilians of the State of the country."

The spokesperson further that the concrete markers are "being placed each 200 meters."

Context and Casualties

Israeli authorities initiated a defense campaign in the Gaza Strip