Terrorists beyond the yellow line: IDF soldiers' testimonies on their 'tied hands'
Exclusive ynet footage reveals suspicious Hamas activity in the ruins of the Gaza Strip. Commanders on the ground report that 'ceasefire politics' are restricting IDF operations, forcing soldiers into a passive defensive posture despite clear signs of enemy preparation for attacks.
Exclusive documentation obtained by ynet reveals suspicious activity by Hamas terrorists beyond the yellow line. In the footage, two terrorists are seen acting among the ruins and secretly passing a bucket between them, which they are trying to disguise. On the ground, there are claims that the soldiers' hands are tied in order not to jeopardize the ceasefire.
"This is a ceasefire war. The likely scenario is that they will attack us with a 'sting' — an explosive device, gunfire, and run back," a commander in the sector told ynet.
Activity in the ruins
In the drone footage from August 7, two Hamas terrorists are seen acting suspiciously among the ruins, which serve as camouflage. At first, the two arrive with an empty bucket, emerge from deep within the ruins, and pass it from point to point.
"We see Hamas operatives, although not armed, digging something — there is a facility among these ruins," the commander added. "He is messing with something in the ground there, the drone is following him beyond the yellow line. East of the yellow line, it would already be dead. They are not operating a tunnel, but there is something they are messing with, digging between the collapsed buildings. They enter, as if trying to hide. We don't know what it is, but it's clear it's not innocent. That's how we know they are preparing. It's blatant."
According to him, the main activity of the force in the sector is defensive-passive. "We are operating here all the time in case they cross. These are preventive actions for a situation where they will cross, not actions that will cause them not to cross." The commander shared that this approach causes frustration: "They bring us for 100 days of reserve duty; if they bring us, we want to work. We understand constraints, but we don't want to sit on our hands."
Political constraints
"This is a ceasefire war. Each side is acting quietly so as not to stir up the sector and not to break the credit we have," he said. With the preoccupation around the roadmap for Gaza, activity was reduced even further.
"Today we are forbidden to shoot beyond the yellow line. We understand this from time to time, as if there is some international game, matters of agreements, superpowers, but in the end, you see the other side acting and you are a bit limited. Now they have tightened procedures," he added.
Yesterday, after the meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, the IDF clarified the directive issued to forces about a month ago: the yellow line should not be pushed westward. According to the IDF, forces currently hold about 65% of the strip's territory. Forces on the ground have been instructed to document Hamas violations along the border to collect evidence.
Ultimatum to Hamas
Following the conversation between Netanyahu and Kushner, it appears the Peace Council intends to move toward a model of total disarmament of the strip, after which the IDF will withdraw completely. Fox News reported that Kushner gave Hamas a "firm ultimatum" to respect signed agreements and disarm, or it will be done by force by the IDF, which will "finish the job."
Earlier, an unusual attack was recorded in the Gaza port, where the IDF attacked Nukhba commanders from the air during a meeting. According to the IDF spokesperson, the attack targeted terrorists, one of whom was identified as a participant in the October 7 raid. Palestinians reported seven dead and 14 wounded.
