ISTANBUL 

The Israeli army is turning what is known as the “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip into a permanent reality, reinforcing its presence along it, Israeli daily Haaretz reported Thursday.

The report said the line has effectively become a fixed separation zone on the ground, as the army expands its deployment by establishing 32 military positions and building a ground barrier stretching about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles).

It added that the line, initially presented as a temporary phase ahead of a broader withdrawal from Gaza, has seen increasing consolidation on the ground in recent months.

According to the report, the “yellow line” has become a central axis of Israeli military deployment inside the enclave, amid ongoing operations in its vicinity.

Haaretz reported that more than 200 Palestinians have been killed near the line in recent months, without providing further details.

The “yellow line” is a notional boundary inside Gaza to which Israeli forces withdrew temporarily under a ceasefire agreement, separating areas under Israeli control from zones where Palestinians are allowed to be present.

On Feb. 17, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would not move “a single millimeter” from the line until Hamas is disarmed.

Israeli forces have carried out daily violations of the ceasefire in place since Oct. 10, which have killed 691 people and wounded 1,876 others as of March 18, according to Health Ministry data.

Israel launched a war on Gaza in October 2023, killing more than 72,000 Palestinians, wounding around 172,000 others, and devastating about 90% of civilian infrastructure.

*Writing by Tarek Chouiref