Trump opposes Israeli army presence at Gaza ‘yellow line’ and urges withdrawal, Israeli media report

US President Donald Trump has signalled to Israel that he does not support plans for the Israeli army to remain deployed along the so-called “Yellow Line” inside the Gaza Strip, and may push for a further withdrawal, according to Israeli media reports.

Messages delivered to Israeli officials over the past week indicate that Trump is determined to advance the second phase of his plan to end the war in Gaza and intends to press Israel to accept it, the newspaper Haaretz reported on Tuesday. The extent to which the plan moves forward is expected to depend on Trump’s upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the end of the month.

Following the army’s withdrawal to the yellow line – an internal demarcation that places more than half of Gaza under Israeli control – public debate in Israel has compared the situation to constructing a “new Berlin Wall”, with some arguing the army should remain there for an extended period. According to Haaretz, Trump rejects this approach.

The report also said Washington was “positively surprised” by Hamas’s compliance with commitments under the current ceasefire agreement, including its ability to locate and transfer the bodies of Israeli prisoners, with the exception of one soldier.

READ: Israel continues to block foreign journalists from independently entering Gaza

US officials are therefore expected to demand that Israel pull its forces back to an area much closer to the border, reducing the territory under Israeli military presence. Israeli military assessments cited by Haaretz claim that Palestinian violations of the ceasefire have been limited, asserting that Israeli troops have fired at Hamas members attempting to cross the yellow line mainly for intelligence gathering, with no significant organised attempts to engage Israeli forces. The main point of friction, the paper said, remains in the Rafah tunnel area, where dozens of Hamas fighters are still present.

The international “Peace Council” tasked with overseeing the formation of a new technocratic administration in Gaza is expected to be announced between 15 December and Christmas. According to the report, agreement has already been reached on candidates for the expert government, which is likely to include individuals with ties to Hamas as well as figures aligned with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.

Plans for deploying an international force to Gaza are tentatively set for mid-January. However, the states approached to contribute troops—while agreeing in principle—are reportedly reluctant to proceed for fear of being drawn into direct confrontation with Hamas, particularly if the mission involves disarming the movement.

READ: Gaza death toll surges to nearly 70,400 since October 2023: Health Ministry