Israel Establishes Yellow Line as New Military Boundary in Gaza

In a significant development regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Israeli military has announced the establishment of the Yellow Line as a new de facto military border. This declaration was made by Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the chief of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), during a press briefing on Sunday. He stated, "We have operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and we will remain on those defence lines. The Yellow Line is a new border line — serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity," as reported by the news agency AFP.

Understanding the Yellow Line The Yellow Line marks a crucial demarcation under the ceasefire agreement brokered by former United States President Donald Trump between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Following this agreement, the IDF was required to pull back to positions located behind this line. The region east of the Yellow Line, which is now under Israeli control, represents approximately 53-58% of the total area of the Gaza Strip.

Importantly, the status of the Yellow Line is classified as temporary, functioning as a military boundary within Gaza. Future phases of the peace plan are expected to involve further withdrawals of Israeli forces and the potential deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF). Subsequent phases aim to gradually reduce Israel's territorial presence in Gaza to 40% during the second withdrawal and to 15% following the third.

Next Steps in the Peace Process The announcement by Lieutenant General Zamir follows comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who indicated that Israel and Hamas are preparing to move into the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations. During a news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu stated that progress would occur only after Hamas returns the remains of an Israeli police officer killed during a recent attack. The officer, identified as 24-year-old Ran Gvili, was a casualty of the violence that erupted on 7 October 2023.

The return of Gvili's remains, alongside Israel's planned return of 15 Palestinian bodies, would signify the conclusion of the first phase of Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza.

Challenges Ahead Netanyahu also highlighted the complexities inherent in the third phase of the peace plan, which focuses on the deradicalisation of Gaza. He referenced historical examples where nations have undergone similar transformations, stating, "As I mentioned to the chancellor, there’s a third phase, and that is to deradicalize Gaza, something that also people believed was impossible. But it was done in Germany, it was done in Japan, it was done in the Gulf States. It can be done in Gaza, too, but of course Hamas has to be dismantled."

As the situation evolves, the international community continues to monitor the developments closely, as the implications of these military and political changes may have far-reaching consequences for peace in the region.