Key facts
- The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) alleges Israel has moved the 'Yellow Line' boundary deeper into Gaza City.
- Satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify show concrete blocks marking the line have been repositioned further into Gaza.
- In the al-Tuffah neighbourhood, markers were moved an average of 295m deeper into the Strip.
- The IDF denies altering the Yellow Line, stating it is marked according to operational assessments.
- PCHR claims the zone under Israeli control now covers over 60 percent of Gaza.
- Since October, troops have reportedly fired on individuals crossing the Yellow Line at least 69 times.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has reported that Israeli forces are pushing the informal 'Yellow Line' boundary deeper into Gaza City, a move described as part of Israel's broader strategy to expand territorial control within the enclave.
According to the PCHR, Israeli troops have repositioned markers in the Tuffah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, leading to the displacement of dozens of Palestinian families. The group stated that Israeli forces are intensifying their efforts to destroy remaining homes and residential areas while increasing their military hold on the territory.
The 'Yellow Line' is an informal demarcation imposed by Israel in Gaza. The PCHR claims that the zone now under Israeli control encompasses over 60 percent of the Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Israel Katz had previously warned that crossing this line would be met with fire.
Satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify corroborates claims that Israel has moved concrete blocks marking the post-ceasefire line of control deeper into Gaza in several locations. In the al-Tuffah neighbourhood, images show that at least seven blocks were moved between November 27 and December 25, with positions shifting an average of 295 meters further into the Strip. BBC Verify mapped 205 other markers, finding that more than half were placed significantly deeper into Gaza than indicated on official maps.
An IDF spokesperson denied that the Yellow Line had been moved or crossed by IDF troops, asserting that the line is visually marked in accordance with ground conditions and ongoing operational assessments. Analysis of satellite images up to January 11 suggests that approximately 10 kilometers of the Yellow Line remain unmarked on the ground, causing confusion among residents about the boundaries of what the IDF designates as a 'dangerous combat zone'.
Since Defence Minister Katz's warning in October, troops have reportedly fired on individuals crossing the Yellow Line on at least 69 occasions. On December 19, an Israeli strike hit a school sheltering displaced people in the al-Tuffah neighbourhood, located about 330 meters inside the Palestinian side of the line according to IDF maps, and only meters from a recently moved yellow block.
Residents living along the Yellow Line report routine ceasefire violations, including air strikes, shootings, and home demolitions. One resident from Khan Younis described the terrifying experience of tanks approaching, opening fire, and retreating, with gunfire and explosions occurring throughout the night.