A ceasefire offered hope after weeks of intensified Israeli strikes on Lebanon, but renewed Israeli attacks and the creation of a military boundary similar to the “Yellow Line” in Gaza are casting doubt on the agreement.The 10-day ceasefire started on Thursday night after 46 days of Israeli bombardment and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. Within hours, Israeli forces were reported to be carrying out demolitions, artillery shelling and land-clearing operations in several border areas in violation of the ceasefire.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listAt the centre of the dispute is what Israel calls a “Yellow Line” – a military zone stretching roughly 10km (6 miles) north of the border inside southern Lebanon. Israeli officials say they intend to keep the zone under military control, while reserving the right to strike the area in what they describe as efforts to root out Hezbollah.Lebanon and Hezbollah have rejected the move as an occupation of sovereign territory that they say violates the very premise of a ceasefire.What is the ‘Yellow Line’?Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces “are remaining in Lebanon in a reinforced security buffer zone”.“This is a security strip ten kilometres deep, which is much stronger, more intense, more continuous and more solid than what we had previously. That is where we are and we are not leaving.”The line has drawn comparisons with Gaza, where Israel has partitioned Palestinian territory into separate zones, with an eastern area totalling 60 percent of the enclave controlled by the Israeli military. Palestinians, most of whom are displaced, …
