Israel has moved the concrete blocks marking its post-ceasefire “Yellow Line” deeper into the Gaza Strip in several areas, sparking confusion and concern among Palestinians. Satellite imagery reviewed by The Update Desk shows that in at least three locations – Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and al-Tuffah – the IDF has placed blocks and later returned to move them further inside Gaza. In total, 16 positions were shifted.
The “Yellow Line” was established under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire deal with Hamas, intended to demarcate the area where Israeli troops would withdraw. However, analysis of satellite images suggests that more than half of the 205 mapped markers have been placed significantly deeper inside the Strip than the original line.
An IDF spokesperson rejected claims that the line has been moved, stating that the military is “operating to visually mark the Yellow Line in accordance with the conditions on the ground.” Yet, satellite data indicates that around 10 kilometres of the territory remains unmarked, leaving some Gazans unsure of where the “dangerous combat zone” begins.
The shifting of the blocks has been described by security expert Professor Andreas Krieg as a “tool for territorial engineering,” allowing Israel to control where Gazans can live, move, and farm without formally changing the border. This has been accompanied by demolitions of nearby buildings, with satellite images showing hundreds of structures levelled up to and beyond the initial block positions.
The movement of the blocks has also coincided with a series of deadly incidents around the Yellow Line. Since the Israeli defence minister’s warning that anyone crossing would be “met with fire,” troops have shot at people in the area on at least 69 occasions, according to an analysis of IDF statements. This includes the killing of a 17-year-old boy in Jabalia camp and the deaths of two children gathering firewood in November.
As the second phase of the ceasefire deal is set to begin, with Israel expected to withdraw from additional parts of the Strip, the shifting of the Yellow Line raises concerns about the true extent of the withdrawal and the security situation for Gazans living near the border.
