‘Israel’s’ so-called yellow line redraws Gaza geography

• ‘Israel’ controls over half of Gaza east of the yellow line, expanding military positions.
• Hundreds of Palestinians killed or injured near the line since ceasefire.
• Humanitarian crisis deepens as displaced families struggle in overcrowded camps.

Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, 2025, a faint demarcation known as the “yellow line” has transformed Gaza’s landscape. What started as a line on maps has become a deadly frontier: a zone of military control, civilian danger, and shrinking territory for Palestinians.

Expanding Control

Reports from United Nations agencies and independent analysts show that ‘Israel’ now maintains control over roughly 53 percent of Gaza, covering the areas east of the yellow line. Satellite imagery and field investigations confirm thirteen new military outposts and upgraded roads along the line since the ceasefire began.

Read more: ‘Israel’ says it will not withdraw from Gaza’s eastern buffer zone

Local residents report that lands once used for farming or housing in neighborhoods like Shujaiya, Zeitoun, and Tuffah are now under military control. Agricultural fields, once feeding families, are blocked, destroyed, or rendered inaccessible. 

Kill Zones Along the Line

Claims that the yellow line has become a “kill zone” are supported by verified casualties. Since the ceasefire, at least 492 Palestinians have been killed and 1,356 injured in areas near the line, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and UN OCHA reports. Civilians, including children collecting firewood or families returning home, face deadly risks when approaching these boundaries. 

Read more: Blame outside, abuse inside: ‘Israel’ accuses Hamas, ignores army sexual assaults

The line is often poorly marked and constantly shifting, leaving Palestinians unaware of its precise boundaries. Independent monitors note that these conditions create a constant threat of shooting and military strikes, reinforcing fears of a permanent lethal frontier.

Forced Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis

The expansion of the yellow line has trapped thousands of Palestinians in overcrowded tent camps, struggling through winter without adequate food, medicine, or fuel. UN agencies report that humanitarian access remains limited due to security restrictions, delaying critical aid deliveries. 

Internal displacement is widespread. Observers documented hundreds of thousands of movements within Gaza as families are forced westward, away from areas now under Israeli control. Fertile agricultural lands east of the line are largely inaccessible, leaving millions dependent on international aid for survival. 

Permanent Border in the Making?

Alongside civilian suffering, ‘Israel’ has been building permanent military infrastructure along the yellow line, including fortified outposts and surveillance systems. Analysts warn that these measures could solidify control over Gaza’s eastern areas, effectively turning the ceasefire line into a de facto border if left unchallenged. 

For Palestinians, the yellow line is more than a boundary, it is a marker of lost land, risk, and confinement. Each day, families live with the constant danger of military action, the pressure of displacement, and the deprivation of basic resources.

What Comes Next

International mediators continue to call for full implementation of the ceasefire, humanitarian access, and troop withdrawals. Yet the reality on the ground shows that the yellow line is already shaping Gaza’s future: a strip of land where survival, mobility, and sovereignty are under siege.