Israel's military chief, Eyal Zamir, has informed soldiers deployed in Gaza that the "yellow line," which serves as a dividing feature in Donald Trump's ceasefire plan, is to be considered a "new border" for the nation. General Zamir asserted that Israel intends to maintain its current military positions, which effectively grant control over more than half of the Gaza Strip. This expansive territory includes crucial agricultural land and the vital border crossing with Egypt.

During a visit to Israeli reservists in northern Gaza, where he also observed the ruins of Palestinian towns like Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, Zamir explicitly stated, "The ‘yellow line’ is a new border line, serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity." He further emphasized, "We have operational control over extensive parts of the Gaza Strip and we will remain on those defence lines." This declaration signifies a firm intention to retain a significant military footprint within the territory.

The eastern portion of Gaza, now under substantial Israeli control, saw its Palestinian inhabitants forcibly displaced through Israeli attacks and evacuation orders. Consequently, the vast majority of the surviving population, numbering over two million people, are now confined to a constricted coastal strip of sand dunes, an area smaller than Washington D.C. This military posture appears to directly contradict the ceasefire agreement signed in October, which explicitly states that "Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza" and mandates the Israeli military to "progressively hand over" Palestinian territory to an international security force, leading to a "complete withdrawal from Gaza," save for a small border security perimeter.

While the Israeli government declined to comment on whether Zamir's statement represented official policy, an official indicated that Israeli forces were "deployed in Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire outline" and accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire. The ceasefire agreement links the departure of Israeli forces to the demilitarisation of Hamas, yet it crucially lacks any specified mechanism or timeframe for this to occur. Furthermore, despite a UN resolution authorizing the creation of an international security force, no countries have committed troops, largely due to concerns about risking their soldiers in potential confrontations with Hamas, despite pressure from the Trump administration.

In a tangible demonstration of this asserted new boundary, the Israeli army has constructed new concrete outposts along the "yellow line" to fortify its positions. This line has been officially declared a lethal boundary, even though it is not always clearly marked and a ceasefire remains in effect. Alarmingly, Israeli soldiers have repeatedly killed Palestinians, including young children, whom they accuse of crossing this line. Satellite imagery further reveals that some concrete bollards, intended to mark sections of the line, have been placed hundreds of meters beyond the boundary agreed upon in ceasefire maps, effectively expanding Israel’s military occupation of Gaza.

Adding another layer to the long-term implications, the U.S. military has also been planning for the enduring partition of Gaza along this very "yellow line," with one U.S. official characterizing reunification as "aspirational." Documents reviewed by the Guardian outline a future for the territory split into two distinct zones: a "green zone" intended for reconstruction under Israeli and international military control, and a "red zone" that would be left indefinitely in ruins, underscoring the potential for a deeply divided future for Gaza.