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

The Truce Agreement and the Yellow Boundary

Under the first stage of the agreement, Israeli authorities agreed to withdraw to a boundary border extending along the north, south, and east edges of the Gaza Strip. The boundary was marked by a distinctive line on official charts released by the defense forces and has become known as the "Demarcation Line."

However, new videos and aerial photographs reveal that indicators placed by Israeli troops in two locations to mark the boundary have been placed several hundreds of meters further inside the territory than the expected pullback boundary.

Official Comments and Advisories

Israel's Defence Official Israel Katz—which instructed troops to place the distinctive blocks—warned that individuals crossing the boundary "would be confronted with gunfire." There have already been at least two deadly events close to the demarcation line.

When contacted, the Israeli military did not respond to the allegations, stating simply that: "IDF forces under the military command have started marking the demarcation in the Gaza Strip to create operational understanding on the ground."

Absence of Precision and Confusion

There's been a ongoing lack of clarity about where precisely the boundary will be imposed, with multiple different maps posted by the White House, former U.S. President, and the Israeli military in the run up to the ceasefire deal that took effect on October 10.

On October 14, the IDF released the latest version marking the Yellow Line on their online map, which is used to communicate its stance to residents in the Gaza Strip.

Northern and Southern Gaza

In the north, adjacent to the al-Atatra area, aerial footage from the IDF showed that a line of several yellow markers were up to over 500 meters further inside the territory than was anticipated from the IDF maps.

Footage verified showed personnel operating heavy machinery and excavators to relocate the large yellow markers and place them along the coastal al-Rashid road.

A comparable situation was visible in southern Gaza, where a satellite photograph taken on 19 October revealed ten markers erected near the urban area of Khan Younis. The row of blocks ranges between 180m-290 meters within the demarcation set out by the Israeli military.

Experts Analysis

Multiple experts suggested that the markers were designed to establish a "safety area" separating local residents and Israeli personnel. One expert said the move would be consistent with a ongoing "strategic culture" that aims to insulate Israel from adjacent areas it does not completely control.

"It provides the Israeli military space to manoeuvre and create a 'kill zone' targeting possible threats," Dr Andreas Krieg commented. "Possible threats can be engaged before they approach the IDF boundary. It is a bit like no man's land that does not belong to anyone—and Israeli authorities often to acquire that territory from the opponent's chunk not its own."

Three experts proposed that the difference separating the indicators and the official map was an deliberate design to warn civilians they are "approaching an zone of increased risk."

Noam Ostfeld noted that some blocks "seem to be placed near pathways or walls, rendering them more straightforward to identify."

Civilian Confusion and Incidents

Exists already confusion within residents over locations where it is safe to travel.

Abdel Qader Ayman Bakr living resides close to the temporary demarcation in the eastern section of Gaza City Shejaiya district said that, notwithstanding promises from Israel of clear markings, he had observed none installed.

"Each day, we can see Israeli military vehicles and soldiers at a relatively nearby distance, yet we have no means of determining whether we are in what is considered a 'secure area' or 'a hazardous location'," he said. "We're constantly exposed to risk, especially since we are compelled to stay in this location because this is where our residence once stood."

After the truce came into effect, the Israeli military has documented a series of instances of people crossing the demarcation. On each occasions the military said it engaged those present.

Video acquired and verified showed the consequences of one event on October 17, which the Hamas-run Civil Defence authority claimed killed eleven civilians—including females and children all reportedly from the same household. The agency stated the Palestinians' car was targeted by Israel following approaching the Yellow Line east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The video showed emergency personnel inspecting the destroyed remnants of a vehicle and covering a nearby badly-mangled remains of a child with a white sheet. Geolocation located the video to a spot around 125 meters over the demarcation indicated on maps by the IDF.

The Israeli military said alert shots were discharged at a "suspicious car" that had breached the line. The statement added after the vehicle failed to stop, soldiers engaged "to eliminate the danger."

Juridical Standing and Responsibilities

At the same time, the juridical standing of the demarcation has also been challenged.

"Israel's obligations under the law of hostilities cannot end including for those violating the demarcation," said Dr Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne. "The military can only target enemy combatants or those directly participating in hostilities, and in so doing it has to not inflict disproportionate civilian harm."

Officially, an Israel's defense spokesperson said: "Israeli forces under the military command continue to function to eliminate any danger to the troops and to defend the civilians of the State of the country."

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

Context and Fatalities

Israeli authorities initiated a defense campaign in the Gaza Strip