Gaza’s yellow line creeps forward as Israeli forces expand zone of control | Gaza

Over the past six months since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have been advancing westward across the agreed ceasefire line in Gaza, expanding their zone of control and making the situation of uncertainty even more dangerous for Palestinians.

The “yellow line” agreed to in the US-brokered ceasefire in October was supposed to be temporary pending further Israeli withdrawal, but the partially observed ceasefire stalled after its first phase due to disagreements over the disarmament of Hamas and the continuation of Israeli bombardment of Gaza.

Since then, the yellow line has moved forward in many places, expanding the area under the army’s control well beyond the 53% of Gaza territory implied in the original ceasefire maps. According to the research agency Forensic ArchitectureBy December Israel had captured 58% of the strip and continued to advance.

The line is marked with yellow concrete blocks in some places; most of these were moved in December and January as the military captured more ground, especially in urban areas. All over Gaza, residents woke up to find that the line had moved overnight and suddenly they were in a free-firing zone.

“The yellow line moved forward several times,” said Faiq al-Sakani, 37, from Al-Tuffah. He said the line advanced 100 meters in January and reached the al-Sanafour junction near Salah al-Din road, the main road running north-south along the strip.

“During these advances, displaced people staying near Saladin Street were targeted,” he said. He added that there has been a serious increase in the demolitions, excavations and new buildings carried out by the army in recent days and that intense gunfire is constantly heard in the region.

The army also expanded a series of embankments (high ground) along the line, dominating neighborhoods and giving tank gunners and snipers visibility over large areas of devastated Palestinian cities. More than 10 miles of levees have already been erected. According to HaaretzMostly in the north, but bulldozers have started digging new earthworks in Gaza City and Khan Younis.

Adding to the growing sense of permanence around the yellow line, the army is building a sprawling series of fortified outposts. Seven new concrete castles have been built in recent months, bringing the total number of castles on the strip to 32. All new construction took place on the yellow line.

As these physical signs moved west, so did an unmarked zone where any Palestinian person or vehicle was viewed as a threat and legitimate target.

Aid organizations working in Gaza said they were told by Israeli liaison officers that the border of this area was the “orange line” and that if they crossed this area, they would have to coordinate their operations with the army. But the orange line was only available on maps. It has never been marked, and its distance to the yellow line appears to vary between 200 and 500 meters, according to the Israeli army unit stationed there.

When the yellow line moves, many Palestinians find that instead of crossing the orange line, the orange line crosses them. The UN reported in March It was stated that the orange line had advanced and that 10 UN facilities, including emergency shelters for displaced people, were now informed that they were on the wrong side.

Ahmad Ibsais, a Palestinian-American legal expert and commentator, argued that the real purpose hidden behind the yellow line and all related security regulations is to remove the Palestinian people from the region. It says on the website Al-ShabakaIbsais, a think tank, described it as “a method of annexation deliberately designed to avoid legal consequences.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended its actions on the yellow line, arguing that its soldiers had the right to protect themselves from perceived imminent threats in a tense environment.

“The IDF attempts to visually mark the yellow line in accordance with terrain conditions and constantly updated operational assessment,” an Israeli military spokesman said. “As part of these efforts, the IDF is informing local residents in Gaza of the line’s location and working to mark the line on the ground to reduce friction and avoid misunderstandings.

“The area adjacent to the yellow line is a sensitive and dangerous operating environment. Signs have been posted stating that it is forbidden to approach the area. It should be emphasized that the Israeli Armed Forces do not operate against civilians and do not target civilians solely due to their proximity to the line.”

The allegation that civilians who were perceived as a threat to Israeli positions along the line were killed was rejected as a legal defense by UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk. said this month: “Targeting civilians who are not directly participating in hostilities is a war crime, regardless of their proximity to lines of deployment.”

According to UN data, 269 of the more than 700 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire during the six months the ceasefire lasted were shot near the yellow line. More than 100 of them were children.

Duaa Taima, 29, who lives in an abandoned UN clinic in the Jabaliya refugee camp, 200 meters from the yellow line, said: “We live under constant threat even after the ceasefire. There is constant random gunfire from the Israeli army and I hide behind cracked walls with my children, looking for any protection.”

The demarcation line near Jabaliya and the neighboring town of Beit Lahiya seemed distant when the ceasefire was first declared, but Taima said in December it was much closer.

“That day was extremely difficult,” he said. “A large truck carrying yellow concrete blocks arrived, accompanied by a crane to lift them, while Israeli military vehicles advanced and heavy and direct gunfire began to come at us.”

More recently, three interconnected levees were erected along Beit Lahiya’s yellow line, creating a high barrier visible for miles.

Residents along the yellow line reported being afraid to leave their homes due to constant surveillance by drones and the unpredictability of the Israeli security zone.

Rafiq Mustafa, 60, thought his family’s home in Beit Lahiya was a safe distance from the yellow line until yellow concrete signs appeared 200 meters away.

“We knew the blocks were moving, accompanied by heavy and random gunfire, along with the sound of tanks and bulldozer engines,” Mustafa said. “We stayed inside the house, we couldn’t even go up to the roof.”

“Approaching the yellow line has become extremely dangerous. Anyone who approaches it, or even looks in that direction, is being followed by quadcopter drones, shot or arrested and interrogated.” [Israeli-backed] militia groups.

“Now we only go out when necessary, and when we do, we go out with extreme caution. We are afraid for ourselves and our children. They no longer play on the street.”