Gaza Herald – Israeli occupation has drawn a new internal border inside Gaza, known as the “yellow line,” dividing areas under Palestinian presence from zones held by its army. Israeli commanders say the line now functions as a forward defensive barrier and offensive staging point, sidestepping the U.S. backed roadmap that calls for withdrawal and the deployment of an international stabilization force as part of the agreement’s second phase.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also pushed back against the proposed multinational force approved under a U.S. resolution at the UN Security Council. He argued the mission would be unable to achieve what Israel defines as its “main objective,” signalling Tel Aviv’s unwillingness to reduce its military footprint inside Gaza even as Washington advances its transition plan. Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump again later this month.
Regional states have warned that Israel’s unilateral actions, paired with ongoing violations in Gaza, risk reigniting the genocide Israeli occupation has carried out since October 2023. Qatar reaffirmed that Palestinians will not accept displacement, and eight Muslim-majority nations issued a joint statement rejecting any attempt to force Gazans from their land while stressing adherence to the U.S. plan’s commitments, including reopening Rafah crossing and ensuring free movement.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation artillery continued striking eastern Gaza City, and a Palestinian man was shot in Rafah, underscoring the expanding military operations occurring alongside Israel’s attempt to impose new territorial realities on the ground.
