Officers Say Gaza Yellow Line Rules Were Softened, Army Denies Any Change

Israeli officers serving in the field told ynet on Monday that Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Liron Batito ordered a change in how the rules of engagement are applied along the yellow line in Gaza. They said that in recent weeks there has been a dramatic and worrying shift in how troops deal with Palestinians approaching or crossing the line.

One officer stationed at a post on the line said that until recently battalion commanders briefed troops that any adult crossing the yellow line was to be treated as a target to be killed, but that this had changed to a suspect-arrest procedure ending, at most, with shooting at the legs. The IDF denied any change, saying, “There is no change in the rules of engagement. IDF fighters operating in the Strip are allowed and required to remove any threat, while at the same time avoiding harm to uninvolved civilians as much as possible.”

Despite the denial, several officers insisted the practical effect was a dangerous shift. They said Batito toured outposts and explained the move was prompted by criticism over several incidents, including one in which a Palestinian using crutches was shot and another in which the IDF killed two humanitarian aid truck drivers near the yellow line. Officers said daily attempts to approach or cross the line continue, and warned that many of those crossing are used by Hamas to test IDF patterns, gather intelligence, and map deployments along the border.

Reservists and other commanders described deep frustration and a breakdown in trust. One reserve officer said, “I am furious. There were incidents and they do not allow soldiers to shoot. Drones crossed the border and they were not authorized to fire. Every day there are lots of people crossing. They are playing games with us, it is like October 7. They cross the yellow line freely. All the soldiers here are frustrated.” The commanders said the main fear is that hesitation at the contact line will be read by the Palestinian side as weakness, undermine deterrence, and encourage more ambitious attacks. The army said again that only a clarification of procedures had been issued after problematic incidents, and that forces continue to act according to operational need and threat assessments.