Israel’s chief of the general staff, Eyal Zamir, has described the “yellow line” dividing Gaza under Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan as a new border for Israel. Speaking to soldiers deployed in the territory, Zamir said the army would maintain its current positions, which give Israel control of more than half of Gaza, including most agricultural land and the border crossing with Egypt.
“The ‘yellow line’ is a new border line, serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity,” Zamir told reservists in northern Gaza. He also visited the ruins of Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, towns devastated by Israeli attacks.
According to a transcript released by a military spokesperson, Zamir added: “We have operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and we will remain on those defence lines.”
Palestinians were forced out of the eastern portion of Gaza by bombardments and evacuation orders. More than two million people now remain crowded into a narrow coastal zone smaller than Washington DC.
Zamir’s remarks appear to contradict the ceasefire agreement signed in October, which states that Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. Trump’s 20‑point plan commits Israel to progressively hand over Palestinian territory to an international security force until a complete withdrawal is achieved, apart from a small security perimeter along the border.
The Israeli government declined to clarify whether Zamir’s comments reflected official policy. A government official said forces were deployed “in accordance with the ceasefire outline” and accused Hamas of violating the truce.
The ceasefire agreement ties Israel’s departure to the demilitarisation of Hamas, but provides no mechanism or timetable for implementation. A UN resolution passed last month authorised the creation of an international security force, though no country has yet committed troops. Several states have expressed interest but remain reluctant to risk their soldiers being drawn into combat with Hamas, despite pressure from Washington.
Meanwhile, Israel has fortified its positions along the “yellow line” with new concrete outposts, declaring it a lethal boundary despite the ceasefire. Soldiers have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians accused of crossing it, including children. Satellite images reveal that concrete bollards marking the line have in some cases been placed hundreds of metres beyond the boundary agreed in ceasefire maps.
The United States military has also been planning for a long‑term partition of Gaza along the “yellow line”. One US official described reunification of the territory as “aspirational”. Documents seen by the Guardian outline a division into a “green zone” under Israeli and international control, where reconstruction would begin, and a “red zone” left indefinitely in ruins.
