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New findings suggest that Israel's military forces are maintaining authority over more area within the Gaza Strip than previously anticipated under the truce agreement.

This Truce Agreement and the Yellow Boundary

Under the initial stage of the deal, Israeli authorities committed to retreat to a boundary line extending along the north, south, and east sides of the Gaza Strip. The boundary was marked by a distinctive line on official charts released by the military and has become referred to as the "Demarcation Line."

However, new footage and satellite photographs show that markers placed by Israeli soldiers in two areas to designate the boundary have been set several hundreds of yards further inside the territory than the anticipated pullback line.

Official Statements and Warnings

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz—who ordered soldiers to place the yellow markers—warned that anyone crossing the line "would be met with fire." There's been already been at least several fatal events close to the demarcation zone.

When contacted, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not address the allegations, stating only that: "IDF troops under the military command have started designating the demarcation in the Gaza Strip to establish operational clarity on the terrain."

Absence of Clarity and Confusion

There has been a consistent absence of clarity about the exact location exactly the demarcation would be established, with three separate charts published by the U.S. administration, former U.S. President, and the Israel's military in the run up to the truce deal that came into force on 10 October.

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

Northern and South Gaza

Near the northern sector, adjacent to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, aerial video from the IDF showed that a row of six yellow blocks were as much as 520m further inside the Strip than would have been expected from the IDF maps.

Video geolocated depicted workers operating bulldozers and excavators to move the heavy yellow blocks and position them along the seaside al-Rashid route.

A similar scenario was visible in the south of Gaza, where a satellite photograph captured on October 19 revealed 10 markers erected close to the city of Khan Younis. The row of markers ranges from 180 meters-290m inside the Yellow Line established by the Israeli military.

Analysts Analysis

Multiple analysts suggested that the blocks were designed to create a "safety area" between local residents and IDF forces. One analyst said the action would be consistent with a long-term "policy approach" that aims to protect the state from adjacent areas it does not completely administer.

"It gives the IDF space to manoeuvre and establish a 'kill zone' targeting possible targets," an analyst said. "Potential targets can be targeted before they approach the IDF perimeter. It is a bit like no man's land that doesn't pertain to either side—and Israel often to take that land from the opponent's chunk not its territory."

Several analysts suggested that the difference between the indicators and the IDF map was an deliberate design to warn residents they are "entering an zone of increased risk."

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

Civilian Uncertainty and Incidents

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

A resident living lives close to the interim boundary in the east part of Gaza City's Shejaiya neighbourhood said that, despite promises from Israeli authorities of visible markings, he had observed none installed.

"Daily, we can see Israel's army vehicles and soldiers at a fairly close distance, but 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 exposed to danger, particularly as we are compelled to stay in this location because this is where our residence once stood."

Since the truce was implemented, the Israeli military has reported a number of instances of people crossing the demarcation. On each occasions the military stated it fired upon those involved.

Video obtained and geolocated showed the consequences of a event on October 17, which the Hamas-run emergency agency claimed resulted in the deaths of eleven non-combatants—comprising females and minors reportedly allegedly from the same family. The authority said the local vehicle was attacked by Israeli forces after approaching the demarcation to the east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The footage displayed rescue workers inspecting the destroyed remnants of a vehicle and shrouding a adjacent severely damaged remains of a child with a light-colored sheet. Verification placed the footage to a location approximately 125m over the Yellow Line indicated on charts by the IDF.

The IDF said warning rounds were fired towards a "suspicious vehicle" that had crossed the boundary. The statement noted after the vehicle failed to halt, soldiers engaged "to eliminate the threat."

Legal Status and Responsibilities

Meanwhile, the juridical status of the demarcation has likewise been challenged.

"The state's obligations under the regulations of armed conflict cannot cease even for those violating the demarcation," commented a legal expert. "It can solely target enemy combatants or those directly involved in conflict, and in such actions it has to avoid inflict excessive civilian harm."

Officially, an Israel's defense representative said: "IDF forces under the military command continue to operate to remove every threat to the troops and to protect the civilians of the nation of Israel."

The spokesperson further that the concrete markers are "positioned every 200 metres."

Background and Fatalities

Israeli authorities launched a military campaign in Gaza