Following a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement, Israel established a demarcation known as the ‘Yellow Line’ to mark areas from which its military forces were expected to withdraw. The line was introduced as part of a 20-point plan and initially confined Israeli control to 53 percent of the Gaza Strip. However, satellite imagery and assessments by monitoring organizations indicate that Israeli forces have repeatedly moved the yellow concrete blocks marking this boundary westward, expanding their controlled territory beyond the original agreement.
Current estimates place Israeli military control or access restrictions over approximately 65 to 70 percent of Gaza’s territory. This expansion has dramatically altered the living conditions for Palestinians remaining in the enclave. Before the conflict, the Gaza Strip housed approximately 2.1 million people across 365 square kilometers at a density of roughly 6,000 people per square kilometer. Under the initial ceasefire terms, Palestinians would have been confined to 47 percent of the territory. Today, the remaining accessible areas comprise only about 35 percent of Gaza, or approximately 128 square kilometers, accommodating the same population at densities exceeding 16,000 people per square kilometer.
Humanitarian conditions in the remaining accessible areas have become severe. The United Nations reports that 82 percent of structures across Gaza are damaged or destroyed, while only 3 percent of cropland remains both undamaged and accessible for agricultural use. More than 950,000 people are residing in displacement sites constructed primarily of tents and makeshift shelters, with significant flooding risks expected during the rainy season. Access restrictions imposed by Israeli forces create additional obstacles for aid organizations attempting to assist displaced populations and relocate families to safer areas.
Security concerns persist near the demarcation line, with Israel designating areas beyond it as free-fire zones. Palestinian casualties near the boundary have been documented, with approximately 1,500 people killed across Gaza since the ceasefire announcement. The combination of territorial restrictions, infrastructure damage, limited arable land, and access limitations has left the remaining accessible portions of Gaza severely overcrowded with minimal resources for shelter, sanitation, medical facilities, and basic services.
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