Gaza City, Gaza. Israel moved concrete blocks marking its armistice line with Hamas deeper into a Gaza neighbourhood in December and destroyed dozens of buildings, displacing Palestinians in violation of a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal, according to satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters and resident testimony.
Satellite imagery shows shifted line and new fortifications
In areas across Gaza, Israel has placed the concrete blocks meant to demarcate its “Yellow Line” dozens or sometimes hundreds of metres inside Hamas-controlled territory, satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters shows. The imagery also shows the Israeli military has built up at least six fortifications to station troops.
The imagery depicts Israel unilaterally shifting its line of control in Gaza and cordoning off more land where Palestinians could live, even as President Donald Trump presses ahead with a ceasefire plan that calls for further Israeli troop withdrawals.
Al-Tuffah blocks moved and buildings destroyed
The widening zone of control is shown in Al-Tuffah, once a historic quarter of Gaza City that has sustained extensive destruction after two years of Israeli bombardment.
Thousands of Palestinians took shelter in Al-Tuffah after the October ceasefire, which was meant to see Israeli troops retreat to a yellow line marked on military maps that runs nearly the full length of Gaza and hugs the neighbourhood’s eastern edge.
Satellite images of Al-Tuffah taken December 2 and 13 show Israel initially placed blocks on the Hamas-controlled side of the Yellow Line and then moved them roughly 200 metres further in.
After moving the yellow-painted blocks, the military began razing the area, destroying at least 40 buildings, a Reuters analysis of the imagery shows. Few buildings remain standing between the newly positioned blocks and the Yellow Line.
Military response and stated operations
It was unclear how Israel demolished the buildings. In the past, Israel has used a combination of aerial bombardment, controlled explosions and bulldozers to raze structures.
The Israeli military said it was checking Reuters’ questions on why the blocks were moved and why the buildings were destroyed. The military has said it has continued operations against Hamas since the ceasefire, including by targeting its tunnel network under Gaza.
What impact do you think changes to the “Yellow Line” could have on displaced residents in Gaza?
