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Recent evidence suggest that Israel's defense troops are maintaining control over more territory within the Gaza Strip than initially expected under the truce deal.

This Ceasefire Agreement and the Demarcation Line

Under the initial stage of the agreement, Israeli authorities committed to withdraw to a demarcation line running along the north, south, and east edges of the Gaza Strip. This divide was designated by a distinctive marker on official charts released by the military and has become known as the "Yellow Line."

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

Official Comments and Warnings

Israel's Defence Official Israel Katz—which ordered troops to position the yellow markers—warned that individuals approaching the boundary "will be met with fire." There have already been at minimum several fatal incidents near the boundary zone.

Upon approached, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not address the allegations, stating simply that: "Israeli troops under the military command have begun marking the demarcation in the Gaza to create tactical clarity on the terrain."

Lack of Precision and Confusion

There has been a consistent absence of clarity regarding the exact location precisely the demarcation will be established, with three different charts published by the White House, Donald Trump, and the Israeli defense forces in the run up to the truce deal that took effect on 10 October.

On October 14, the Israeli military issued the latest edition marking the demarcation on their digital chart, which is used to communicate its stance to residents in Gaza.

Northern and Southern Areas

Near the northern sector, close to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, aerial video from the Israeli military showed that a line of several yellow blocks were as much as over 500 meters further within the territory than was expected from the official charts.

Video geolocated showed workers using heavy machinery and diggers to relocate the large yellow blocks and position them along the coastal al-Rashid road.

A comparable situation was visible in southern the Gaza Strip, where a satellite image captured on 19 October revealed 10 markers erected near the urban area of Khan Younis. The row of blocks extends between 180m-290 meters within the demarcation established by the IDF.

Analysts Interpretation

Multiple experts suggested that the markers were intended to create a "buffer zone" separating Palestinians and Israeli forces. An analyst said the move would be in line with a ongoing "policy approach" that aims to protect Israel from nearby areas it does not fully control.

"This provides the IDF room to operate and establish a 'kill zone' against possible targets," Dr Andreas Krieg commented. "Possible targets can be engaged before they approach the military boundary. It is a somewhat like unclaimed territory that does not pertain to anyone—and Israeli authorities tends to take that territory from the adversary's chunk rather than its own."

Three analysts proposed that the difference between the markers and the IDF map was an deliberate strategy to warn residents they are "approaching an area of increased danger."

An analyst said that some blocks "seem to be placed close to pathways or barriers, making them easier to identify."

Resident Uncertainty and Events

Exists already confusion among Gazans over areas where it is secure to travel.

A resident who resides close to the interim demarcation in the east section of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, despite promises from Israeli authorities of visible indicators, he had observed no such markers installed.

"Each day, we can see Israeli military vehicles and soldiers at a fairly nearby distance, but we have no means of knowing whether we are in what is considered a 'secure area' or 'an active danger zone'," he said. "We are continually exposed to risk, particularly since we are forced to stay in this location because this is where our residence previously stood."

After the truce was implemented, the IDF has documented a series of instances of people approaching the Yellow Line. On all instances the military said it fired upon those present.

Video obtained and verified showed the aftermath of one incident on 17 October, which the Hamas-run emergency agency said killed 11 civilians—including females and minors reportedly allegedly from the identical family. The authority said the Palestinians' car was attacked by Israel after approaching the Yellow Line east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The footage showed emergency workers inspecting the burnt out remnants of a vehicle and covering a nearby severely damaged body of a child with a white cloth. Verification located the video to a location around 125 meters over the demarcation marked on charts by the Israeli military.

The Israeli military said warning rounds were fired towards a "suspect vehicle" that had crossed the boundary. The announcement noted when the car failed to stop, troops engaged "to eliminate the threat."

Legal Status and Obligations

At the same time, the juridical standing of the demarcation has likewise been questioned.

"Israel's obligations under the regulations of hostilities do not cease even for those breaching the Yellow Line," said Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne. "It can solely engage hostile combatants or those directly involved in hostilities, and in so doing it must avoid inflict disproportionate civilian harm."

In a statement, an Israel's defense representative stated: "IDF troops under the Southern Command persist to operate to eliminate any threat to the troops and to protect the residents of the nation of Israel."

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

Background and Fatalities

Israel initiated a defense operation in Gaza