When Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said that the “Yellow Line” cutting Gaza in half will be Israel’s new border, he was enshrining a decades-old Israeli policy toward Gaza.
Today, it boils down to a simple logic: divide the Gaza Strip into two areas separated by the Yellow Line — one remains under Israeli control, with residential blocks constructed for Palestinians to move into after security vetting (without being allowed to leave), and the other is placed under international control, where no reconstruction takes place and only minimal aid would be allowed through.
For now, Israel is willing to settle for this endgame in Gaza, and is actively pushing to expand what it might mean for the continued residence of Palestinians in the Strip. Although Zamir’s statement contradicts the officially stated aim of U.S. President Trump’s plan for Gaza — which outlines a full Israeli withdrawal at the end of the second phase of the ceasefire — the fact that such a vision was articulated by Israel’s highest military figure means it is a reflection of the heart of Israel’s security doctrine and its historic posture toward approaching the “Gaza question.” ….more
