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New findings indicate that Israeli military forces are exercising control over more area inside Gaza than previously anticipated under the ceasefire agreement.

This Truce Deal and the Demarcation Boundary

According to the first stage of the agreement, Israel committed to withdraw to a demarcation line running along the northern, southern, and east sides of the Gaza Strip. This divide was marked by a yellow marker on official charts published by the military and has come to be known as the "Yellow Line."

However, new videos and aerial images show that indicators positioned by Israeli soldiers in several areas to designate the divide have been set several hundreds of meters further inside the territory than the anticipated withdrawal boundary.

Official Statements and Warnings

Israeli Defence Official the defense minister—who instructed soldiers to place the distinctive markers—warned that individuals crossing the boundary "would be confronted with fire." There have already been at minimum two fatal events near the demarcation line.

Upon approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to the allegations, stating only that: "Israeli troops under the Southern Command have begun marking the demarcation in the Gaza to create tactical clarity on the ground."

Absence of Clarity and Uncertainty

There has existed a ongoing absence of clarity regarding where exactly the boundary will be imposed, with three separate maps published by the U.S. administration, Donald Trump, and the Israel's defense forces in the run up to the truce deal that came into force on October 10.

As of October 14, the IDF issued the latest edition marking the demarcation on their digital chart, which is employed to communicate its position to people in the Gaza Strip.

North and Southern Gaza

Near the northern sector, close to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, drone footage from the Israeli military revealed that a row of several yellow blocks were as much as over 500 meters further inside the territory than would have been expected from the official maps.

Video verified showed personnel using heavy machinery and diggers to relocate the heavy yellow blocks and position them along the seaside al-Rashid route.

A comparable scenario was visible in the south of Gaza, where a aerial photograph taken on 19 October revealed 10 indicators erected near the urban area of Khan Younis. The row of blocks ranges between 180m-290 meters inside the Yellow Line set out by the IDF.

Analysts Analysis

Several experts indicated that the markers were designed to create a "buffer zone" separating local residents and IDF personnel. One expert said the move would be consistent with a long-term "policy approach" that seeks to insulate Israel from nearby territories it does not fully administer.

"This provides the Israeli military space to manoeuvre and create a 'kill zone' targeting possible targets," an analyst commented. "Potential threats can be targeted prior to they reach the military boundary. It is a bit like unclaimed territory that does not belong to anyone—and Israeli authorities tends to acquire that land from the opponent's chunk rather than its territory."

Three experts suggested that the disparity between the indicators and the official chart was an intentional strategy to alert residents they are "entering an area of increased risk."

Noam Ostfeld said that several blocks "seem to be positioned near pathways or walls, rendering them more straightforward to spot."

Civilian Confusion and Events

Exists already confusion within Gazans over locations where it is safe to go.

A resident living resides close to the temporary boundary in the eastern part of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, despite assurances from Israel of visible indicators, he had observed none installed.

"Daily, we can see Israel's army vehicles and personnel at a relatively nearby distance, yet we have no way of knowing whether we are in what is considered a 'safe zone' or 'a hazardous location'," he said. "We're constantly vulnerable to danger, particularly since we are compelled to remain here because this is where our residence previously stood."

After the truce was implemented, the IDF has documented a number of instances of people approaching the Yellow Line. On all occasions the IDF stated it fired upon those involved.

Footage acquired and geolocated depicted the consequences of one event on October 17, which the local Civil Defence agency claimed resulted in the deaths of 11 civilians—including females and minors all reportedly from the same family. The authority said the Palestinians' car was targeted by Israel after crossing the demarcation to the east of the city in the Zeitoun area.

The video showed emergency personnel inspecting the burnt out remains of a vehicle and covering a nearby severely damaged body of a minor with a white sheet. Geolocation placed the footage to a location around 125m beyond the demarcation indicated on maps by the IDF.

The Israeli military stated warning rounds were fired at a "suspicious vehicle" that had breached the boundary. The announcement noted when the vehicle did not to stop, soldiers engaged "to remove the danger."

Legal Standing and Obligations

At the same time, the legal standing of the boundary has also been questioned.

"Israel's responsibilities under the regulations of hostilities do not cease including for those violating the Yellow Line," said a legal expert. "The military can solely target enemy fighters or those actively participating in hostilities, and in such actions it must not cause disproportionate civilian harm."

Officially, an Israel's defense spokesperson said: "Israeli forces under the Southern Command continue to operate to remove any danger to the personnel and to defend the civilians of the State of the country."

They further that the concrete markers are "being placed every 200 meters."

Background and Fatalities

Israel launched a defense campaign in the Gaza Strip