In a highly controversial move that jeopardizes ongoing peace efforts, the Israeli Army Chief has unilaterally declared the ‘Yellow Line’—the boundary agreed upon for military disengagement under a ceasefire deal in Gaza—as the new border between Gaza and Israel. The declaration was made while the Army Chief addressed reserve soldiers deployed within Gaza.
The Chief explicitly stated that the Yellow Line “is a new border line and serves as a modern defensive line for [Israeli] settlements, and now it is a new border.” This assertion creates a serious complication for future negotiations regarding the territory.
Foreign news agencies highlight that the significance of this statement lies in its contradiction of the existing agreement. The Yellow Line was established under the October 10 ceasefire, which specifically required Israeli forces to withdraw behind this demarcation.
The implications are far-reaching, especially given that the second phase of the ceasefire demands further Israeli evacuation of territory and agreement on establishing a transitional authority to administer Gaza. The Army Chief’s unilateral declaration of a permanent border effectively undermines the terms of the existing truce and throws the prospects of a future political settlement into deep uncertainty.
