Investigation reveals: This is how Israel encroaches on the Gaza Strip to create a security belt

Translation by SadaNews - An investigation published by the international English-speaking BBC last night showed that Israel has shifted the yellow line indicated in the ceasefire as an initial withdrawal line from the Gaza Strip into the interior of the Gaza Strip.

According to the investigation, satellite images obtained by the channel show that the yellow concrete blocks, referred to by the line, have been moved in more than 16 locations in the Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City.

According to the channel, as translated by SadaNews, this has increased confusion among the Palestinians.

Under the terms of the agreement brokered by the United States with Hamas, Israel agreed to withdraw its forces behind a line marked in yellow on Israeli military maps, which it has implemented on the ground by deploying yellow concrete blocks.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz previously warned in October 2025 that anyone crossing the yellow line would face firepower.

The channel states that since Katz made these comments, a series of deadly incidents have occurred around the line, resulting in dozens of Palestinian casualties.

In the details of presenting the yellow line, satellite images show that the Israeli army moved at least seven locations where concrete blocks were located east of Gaza City, specifically in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood, and shifted them deeper into the Gaza Strip between November 27 and December 25, with the blocks being moved approximately 295 meters into the Strip, as translated by SadaNews.

In addition to the blocks that were moved, the BBC investigation team identified an additional 205 markers, with more than half placed significantly deeper inside the Strip than the line marked on the agreed maps.

An Israeli army spokesman stated that he rejects "all claims that the yellow line has been moved deeper into the Strip... Our forces are marking the yellow line visually according to the realities on the ground and the ongoing assessment of the operational situation."

Analysis of satellite images up to January 11 of the current year indicates that some parts of the yellow line described by the Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir as a "new border line" remain unmarked on the ground for more than three months, since the start of the ceasefire.

The latest satellite images reviewed by the BBC show that the blocks have not been placed along nearly 10 kilometers of the yellow line designated according to withdrawal maps, leaving some people in Gaza struggling to understand where the lines of what the Israeli army calls the "dangerous combat area" begin.

The investigations broadcast testimonies from Palestinians from Khan Younis and other areas who were surprised by the advance of Israeli forces into their areas and found themselves trapped behind the yellow line after it was moved, despite the fact that they were west of it.

Professor Andreas Krieg, a security expert on Middle Eastern affairs from King’s College London, described the blocks as "tools of regional engineering," indicating that Israel, through these movements, aims to maintain its ability for rapid field transformation and change borders as it wishes without official announcement.

Since Katz’s warning in October 2025, Israeli forces have fired on individuals crossing the yellow line at least 69 times, according to the channel, translated by SadaNews.

Videos and satellite images have shown the advance of Israeli military vehicles and engineering equipment outside the yellow line on more than one occasion, with one incident in Khan Younis involving a penetration of 400 meters into Bani Suheila roundabout, and another of 260 meters into Beit Lahia, as well as several instances of house demolitions of Palestinian homes west of the line.

In the eastern part of Gaza City, satellite images show that hundreds of buildings were leveled up to the yellow line before it was moved, causing further destruction.

In the Jabalia area, Israeli forces demolished a series of school buildings located about 150 meters from the yellow line.

The channel noted that in some cases, rubble from what was demolished was concealed west of the yellow line.

An Israeli army spokesperson claimed that his forces are dismantling a network of Hamas tunnels that he stated are located beneath the buildings on both sides of the yellow line, adding that the destruction of the tunnels "could result in the collapse of buildings on both sides of the line."

In parts of the Strip, the construction of temporary Israeli fortifications such as roadblocks and defensive barriers outside the yellow line has been detected.

Professor Andreas Krieg commented, saying that moving the concrete blocks will ultimately allow Israel to convert parts of Gaza into a "sterile security belt."