From the Liveblog of
Friday, October 17, 2025
Katz orders IDF to place physical markers along boundary of ‘Yellow Line’ in Gaza
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Israel Katz says he has instructed the IDF to place physical markers along the so-called Yellow Line — to which the military withdrew under the terms of the current ceasefire — in the Gaza Strip, so that the boundaries of the military’s control are clearly visible.
He says the markers will serve as a warning to “Hamas terrorists and Gaza residents that any violation or attempt to cross the line will be met with fire.”
The IDF has killed several Palestinians in recent days, saying that they crossed the Yellow Line and posed a threat to Israeli troops.
The Yellow Line, as drawn out by mediators, encompasses over half of the Strip’s territory, or 53% — most of which is outside of urban areas. In reality, the IDF is not holding all of that territory with ground troops, with many of its posts positioned closer to the Israeli border.
In potential future phases of the ceasefire deal, the IDF will further pull back its troops in the Strip.
According to an image published by Katz’s office, the markers that the IDF is set to place in Gaza appear similar to the blue barrels that mark the UN-recognized Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon.
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