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Recent findings indicate that Israeli defense troops are exercising control over more area inside the Gaza Strip than initially expected under the ceasefire deal.

The Truce Deal and the Demarcation Boundary

According to the initial phase of the deal, Israeli authorities agreed to withdraw to a demarcation border running along the north, south, and east sides of Gaza. The boundary was designated by a distinctive marker on maps published by the defense forces and has become referred to as the "Demarcation Line."

However, recent videos and satellite photographs reveal that indicators positioned by Israeli troops in two areas to mark the divide have been placed several hundreds of meters deeper within the territory than the expected withdrawal line.

Official Statements and Warnings

Israel's Defense Official Israel Katz—which ordered soldiers to position the distinctive markers—warned that anyone crossing the boundary "would be met with gunfire." There's been already been at least several deadly events close to the demarcation zone.

Upon contacted, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) failed to address the allegations, stating only that: "IDF forces under the military command have started marking the demarcation in the Gaza to create operational understanding on the ground."

Lack of Precision and Uncertainty

There's been a ongoing absence of precision about where exactly the demarcation would be established, with three separate charts published by the U.S. administration, Donald Trump, and the Israel's defense forces in the lead-up to the truce agreement that came into force on October 10.

As of October 14, the Israeli military released the most recent edition marking the Yellow Line on their online chart, which is employed to communicate its stance to residents in Gaza.

Northern and Southern Gaza

In the north, adjacent to the al-Atatra neighbourhood, aerial video from the Israeli military revealed that a line of six distinctive markers were up to 520m deeper inside the Strip than would have been anticipated from the official charts.

Footage geolocated showed workers operating heavy machinery and excavators to relocate the heavy distinctive markers and position them along the coastal al-Rashid route.

A similar situation was observed in southern Gaza, where a aerial photograph taken on October 19 showed ten indicators erected near the city of Khan Younis. The row of markers ranges between 180m-290 meters inside the Yellow Line set out by the IDF.

Analysts Analysis

Multiple experts indicated that the markers were intended to create a "safety area" separating Palestinians and Israeli forces. One expert said the action would be consistent with a ongoing "policy approach" that aims to protect Israel from adjacent areas it doesn't fully control.

"This provides the IDF space to operate and establish a 'engagement area' against potential targets," Dr Andreas Krieg said. "Potential targets can be engaged prior to they approach the military perimeter. It is a somewhat like unclaimed territory that doesn't belong to anyone—and Israel tends to take that land from the adversary's chunk not its own."

Three experts suggested that the difference between the indicators and the official chart was an deliberate strategy to warn residents they are "approaching an area of elevated danger."

An analyst noted that several blocks "appear to be placed close to roads or barriers, making them more straightforward to identify."

Resident Confusion and Events

There is already confusion among Gazans over locations where it is secure to travel.

Abdel Qader Ayman Bakr living resides close to the interim boundary in the eastern section of Gaza City Shejaiya district stated that, despite promises from Israeli authorities of visible markings, he had observed no such markers put in place.

"Daily, we can see Israeli military equipment and soldiers at a fairly close distance, but we have no way of determining whether we are in what is deemed a 'secure area' or 'an active danger zone'," he said. "We are constantly exposed to danger, especially as we are compelled to stay in this location because this is where our residence once stood."

Since the ceasefire came into effect, the IDF has documented a series of instances of people approaching the demarcation. On all occasions the military said it fired upon those involved.

Video acquired and verified showed the consequences of one incident on 17 October, which the Hamas-run emergency authority claimed killed 11 non-combatants—comprising females and children reportedly allegedly from the identical family. The authority stated the local vehicle was attacked by Israeli forces following approaching the demarcation to the east of Gaza City in the Zeitoun neighbourhood.

The footage displayed emergency workers inspecting the destroyed remains of a car and covering a adjacent badly-mangled remains of a minor with a light-colored cloth. Geolocation placed the video to a location around 125 meters over the demarcation indicated on maps by the IDF.

The Israeli military stated alert rounds were fired at a "suspect vehicle" that had crossed the boundary. The announcement noted after the car did not to stop, troops opened fire "to remove the threat."

Juridical Status and Obligations

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

"Israel's obligations under the regulations of armed conflict do not cease even for those breaching the demarcation," said a legal expert. "It can only engage hostile combatants or those directly involved in hostilities, and in such actions it must not inflict disproportionate civilian harm."

Officially, an Israel's defense spokesperson said: "IDF forces under the Southern Command continue to function to eliminate every threat to the troops and to defend the residents of the State of the country."

The spokesperson further that the concrete blocks are "positioned each 200 meters."

Background and Casualties

Israeli authorities launched a defense operation in Gaza