"The Yellow Line": The New Strategy Preventing Terrorists From Reaching the Border

The Israeli Defense Forces have completed a major phase of a systematic campaign in Northern Gaza, fundamentally altering the security landscape of the region. Troops from the Northern Brigade, operating under the command of the 252nd Division, have spent the last several months operating within the "Yellow Line" buffer zone. Their primary objective has been the total destruction of both above-ground and subterranean terror infrastructure in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya. This new method of warfare ensures that even if terrorists survive the fighting, they will have no functional base to return to, effectively stripping the Hamas terrorist organization of its organizational capacity in the north.

One of the most significant achievements of the operation was the discovery and demolition of over four kilometers of underground tunnel networks. Working alongside the elite Yahalom unit, soldiers mapped out and neutralized these passages which were used by terrorists for movement and surprise attacks. During a search of a residential home in Beit Hanoun, troops made a grim discovery of ten mortar shells hidden inside a child’s blanket. This finding highlights the persistent use of civilian environments by terrorists to store lethal weaponry. Throughout the mission, dozens of terrorists who attempted to approach the border fence or threaten the troops were eliminated.

Since the ceasefire agreement took effect, the Northern Brigade has remained proactive, striking approximately 300 targets through a combination of aerial bombardment and artillery fire. These strikes targeted weapon warehouses, observation posts, and terrorists attempting to re-establish a presence in the buffer zone. The military's goal is to create a permanent freedom of action for Israeli forces while providing the political echelon with the strategic flexibility to decide the future of the Gaza Strip.

The success of this operation has already led to tangible security improvements for the residents of the Western Negev. For the first time since the war began, Zikim Beach has been reopened to the public, the Sderot-Ashkelon train line has resumed service, and the protective wall at Kibbutz Nahal Oz has been lowered. While Hamas officials recently attempted to blame an explosion in Rafah on unexploded Israeli ordnance, military officials confirmed the blast was caused by a Hamas explosive device used against an armored vehicle. The commander of the Northern Brigade emphasized that the mission remains clear, to protect the residents of the south, defeat the terrorists, and return every missing individual, including the late Ran Gvili.