A trip to Gaza’s new ‘yellow line’ shows Israel is digging in

The Israeli military is digging in along the ceasefire line inside Gaza, strengthening fortifications and establishing infrastructure that further divides the territory into two.

- Dov Lieber

The temporary dividing line between two foes is becoming more permanent with earthworks and plans for civilian works.

(REUTERS)

For the first time Tuesday, the Israeli military took journalists to see the so-called yellow line that has separated the Israeli and Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect earlier this month.

All along the line, which under the Trump administration’s peace plan divides Gaza roughly in half, Israel is manning existing outposts and erecting new ones, with troops and tanks surrounded by barbed wire and sand berms.

The outpost visited by The Wall Street Journal sits on high ground overlooking the now flattened neighborhood of Shujaiya. Between the outpost and the ruins rises a sand berm about two stories high and topped with barbed wire. A sandy road wide enough for two cars runs beneath, flanked by a shorter berm on the side nearest to the ruins. Drones buzzed above.

The site was several hundred yards behind the yellow line. Soldiers pointed out how that dividing line follows the intersection of Shujaiya’s leveled blocks with the damaged but largely standing urban center.

Israel’s military is laying down yellow-painted concrete blocks to formally mark the line, but only around 10% to 20% of that work has been completed, military officials said.