Israeli forces expand Gaza yellow line

Israeli forces have used bulldozers to destroy infrastructure and expand the area of Gaza under Israeli control, which is marked by the so-called “yellow line”, as reported by The New Arab and agencies on January 10th.

According to data from Gaza’s Centre for Human Rights, areas of Gaza under Israeli occupation have increased in recent weeks from 53% to over 60%.

This is despite the US-backed ceasefire, which came into effect on October 10th, stipulating Israeli military withdrawal from the enclave. The establishment of the yellow line and reports of soldiers moving markers to further restrict Palestinian movement have raised concerns about a de facto partition of the Gaza Strip.

It was reported on December 29th that Israel had violated the ceasefire terms 969 times since October, with the violations killing at least 418 people in the 80-day period.

Since its establishment, multiple Palestinians have been killed near the yellow line, including two children; the Israeli military has justified these deaths as defence against terrorists.

According to Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the yellow line represents an “advanced security border” for Israel inside Gaza. This statement echoes an announcement by Defence Minister Israel Katz on December 23rd, who stated that Israeli forces would remain “deep inside Gaza.”

Also on December 23rd, Katz announced plans to construct Jewish settlements in northern Gaza, specifically Nahal settlements, which are established by soldiers to encourage Haredi Jews to enlist in the military.

This is despite settlements in Gaza being dismantled in 2005 as part of the settler disengagement initiative under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to rebuild outposts that were dismantled in 2005 as part of a broader plan to increase the Jewish population in the occupied territories.

In December, two groups of Jewish settlers broke into Gaza in an attempt to re-establish outposts; both were apprehended by Israeli authorities before they could progress further into the enclave.

Overall, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed at least 71,000 people since October 2023; more than 17,000 of the dead are believed to be children.

Prior to October 2023, conditions in Gaza were described as “hell on earth” by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who condemned Israel’s bombardment of the enclave in 2021.

The Palestinian territory has been under an Israeli-imposed land, sea and air blockade since 2007, which resulted in shortages of essential resources, such as electricity and food.

The New Arab and agencies, Maghrebi.org