Though Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir only last week stuck to the line of reoccupation of Gaza. He indicated that there is a reinterpretation happening of the ceasefire agreement signed last October. While visiting with reservists in northern Gaza, Zamir stressed that Israeli forces will remain in place. Logically, this statement is a violation of the ceasefire terms, which explicitly mention that “Israel shall retain no form of occupation or annexation of Gaza.”
Zamir’s comments appears to be made while visiting the Palestinian communities Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya which were largely destroyed by troops. He described the “yellow line” as a “new border,” for Israel. This line was rooted in former President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan. As Zamir explained, this line functions both as a tactical forward defensive line and as an operational maneuvering zone.
“The ‘yellow line’ is a new border line, serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity.” – Eyal Zamir
The “yellow line” has concrete police bollards identifying its route in many key areas. Many of these markers even extend hundreds of meters past the boundaries established by the ceasefire maps. This expansion raises concerns about Israel’s intentions in the region. As Zamir cautiously yet boldly declared, the Israeli military is in control of vast stretches of the Gaza Strip. They are walking back their position on all of these defense lines.
“We have operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and we will remain on those defence lines.” – Eyal Zamir
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is catastrophic. More than 2 million people call that area home, less than the land area of Washington D.C. Meanwhile, the Israeli army continues to create new concrete outposts along the “yellow line.” This has recently been added as a lethal boundary and is escalating the threat of armed conflict.
Trump’s 20-point plan envisions a gradual transfer of Palestinian territory to an international security force, yet Israel’s ongoing military fortifications suggest a complex and contentious relationship with the ceasefire agreement. An Israeli official remarked that forces are “deployed in Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire outline,” but Zamir’s comments indicate a diverging perspective on military strategy.