IDF Fighters in Gaza Ordered to Halt Westward Expansion Following Netanyahu-Trump Envoy Talks

Following high-level meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy Jared Kushner, the Israeli military has issued a new operational directive to its forces in the Gaza Strip. The order explicitly prohibits IDF troops from expanding the area under Israeli control westward beyond the current "yellow line." This directive was revealed on Monday evening by Kan News.

In addition to halting territorial advances, soldiers have been instructed to meticulously document any violations by Hamas of its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. To facilitate this, troops are permitted to use their personal mobile phones for recording incidents if necessary.

These instructions came shortly after a marathon political discussion earlier that day, during which Netanyahu met for about four hours with Kushner and Nikolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. The talks occurred amid increasing US pressure on Israel to implement phase two of the Trump administration's Gaza plan. After meeting Netanyahu, Kushner and Mladenov proceeded to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The original "yellow line" was established as part of the 20-point plan presented by President Donald Trump in September of the previous year, leaving Israel in control of just over half of Gaza's territory. However, in recent months, the IDF has pushed the line westward, effectively controlling nearly two-thirds of the Gaza Strip. The new directive reverses this expansion and freezes the current boundaries.