Israel's 'Yellow Line' in Gaza: A Barrier to Civilians' Return Home
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has announced that it has started to delineate the "yellow line" in the Gaza Strip, a demarcation intended to create "tactical clarity on the ground". The yellow line is part of a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump and accepted by Israel and Hamas.
According to images shared by the IDF, heavy machinery has been used to plant giant blocks of concrete along the yellow line. These markers are meant to serve as a warning system for Hamas terrorists and Gaza residents, cautioning them that any violation or attempt to cross the line will be met with fire.
However, experts say that Israel's intention is actually to establish a buffer zone by planting these markers several hundred meters beyond the actual boundary. The Israeli army claims that they have begun installing concrete blocks topped with yellow guide poles every 200 meters along the yellow line.
Despite this claim, NGOs such as Gisha have expressed concerns over the lack of clarity about the location and effectiveness of these markers. They argue that Israel must always distinguish between civilians and combatants, use force only when strictly necessary and proportionate, and take constant precautions to protect civilians.
Gisha's spokesperson Shai Grunberg has stated that the fact that this boundary remains "indistinct" is in keeping with Israeli practices, which have been criticized for their vagueness and inconsistency. He notes that many displaced residents are still trying to reach their homes or lands behind the line without clear indications on its whereabouts.
This barrier also means that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are unable to return home, exacerbating a food-insecurity crisis already present in Gaza. The Israeli army has dropped pamphlets warning residents to stay away from the yellow line, and there are concerns about the impact this will have on agriculture and humanitarian operations.
The "yellow line" is supposed to be temporary, with three phases of withdrawal planned according to the Trump peace plan. However, no dates have been set for these next steps, which include setting up transitional authorities in Gaza and disarming Hamas.
As Akram Abu Khoussa, a displaced resident who fled his farm due to the yellow line, notes: "This line means that civilians can't pick up their lives."
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has announced that it has started to delineate the "yellow line" in the Gaza Strip, a demarcation intended to create "tactical clarity on the ground". The yellow line is part of a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump and accepted by Israel and Hamas.
According to images shared by the IDF, heavy machinery has been used to plant giant blocks of concrete along the yellow line. These markers are meant to serve as a warning system for Hamas terrorists and Gaza residents, cautioning them that any violation or attempt to cross the line will be met with fire.
However, experts say that Israel's intention is actually to establish a buffer zone by planting these markers several hundred meters beyond the actual boundary. The Israeli army claims that they have begun installing concrete blocks topped with yellow guide poles every 200 meters along the yellow line.
Despite this claim, NGOs such as Gisha have expressed concerns over the lack of clarity about the location and effectiveness of these markers. They argue that Israel must always distinguish between civilians and combatants, use force only when strictly necessary and proportionate, and take constant precautions to protect civilians.
Gisha's spokesperson Shai Grunberg has stated that the fact that this boundary remains "indistinct" is in keeping with Israeli practices, which have been criticized for their vagueness and inconsistency. He notes that many displaced residents are still trying to reach their homes or lands behind the line without clear indications on its whereabouts.
This barrier also means that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are unable to return home, exacerbating a food-insecurity crisis already present in Gaza. The Israeli army has dropped pamphlets warning residents to stay away from the yellow line, and there are concerns about the impact this will have on agriculture and humanitarian operations.
The "yellow line" is supposed to be temporary, with three phases of withdrawal planned according to the Trump peace plan. However, no dates have been set for these next steps, which include setting up transitional authorities in Gaza and disarming Hamas.
As Akram Abu Khoussa, a displaced resident who fled his farm due to the yellow line, notes: "This line means that civilians can't pick up their lives."
. and what about all the displaced ppl who have been tryin 2 get back 2 their homes or lands? this line is literally makin life harder 4 them 
. i mean, we gotta make sure there r clear guidelines & precautions in place 2 protect civilians, not just push 'em around 
. and why the delay on setttin up transitional authorities & disarmament 4 hams?? seems like a bunch of empty promises 2 me 
.
. I mean, it's supposed to keep terrorists out and all that, but what about the civilians? They're not even getting a heads up on where the line is or how far away it is from their homes 
. It's like, totally not clear cut, you know? And now we got NGOs saying it's just gonna exacerbate the whole food-insecurity thing, and I'm all about that 
.
. But on the other hand, if we don't have some kinda buffer zone in place, it's just gonna be a recipe for disaster 
.
. They're basically cutting off these ppl's access 2 their homes 
. Can't imagine how tough it is 4 them, especially with the food crisis already goin' on in Gaza 
. I mean, who gets to decide what's "tactical clarity" anyway? 
. And what about all these hundreds of thousands of ppl who are supposed 2 be able 2 return home? 
Yeah, right. I've seen too many instances where 'temporarily' turns into 'permanently' and nobody bats an eye. It's like Israel is trying to keep its population in limbo, while the rest of us are left wondering what's really going on.
It's not just about making a barrier, it's about affecting lives. Food insecurity is bad enough in Gaza, but this line is going to make it even harder for people to get on with their daily lives. I mean, what if they can't find food or water near the line? Who's responsible then?