‘Where do we go?’: How Israel’s ‘yellow line’ is closing in on Palestinians
Israel’s expanding ‘yellow line’ in Gaza has confined Palestinians to less than 40% of the Strip, displacing families repeatedly and worsening humanitarian conditions amid ongoing military operations.
Ola Ishtiwi and her children live near painted cement blocks marking Israel’s ‘yellow line’ in Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, which now divides the Strip into western and eastern zones under Palestinian and Israeli control, respectively. Initially allowing Palestinians to occupy 47% of Gaza, the line has been pushed inward by Israeli forces, reducing their access to less than 40% of the territory, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The encroachment has forced repeated displacements for families like Ibtisam Malika’s in Zeitoun, where residents report cycles of fleeing and returning only to flee again every two to three months, leaving belongings behind. The UN estimates 2.1 million people—nearly the entire Gaza population—are displaced within the ‘yellow line’ limits, with many trapped near the painted blocks due to lack of alternatives.
Residents near the line describe unbearable living conditions, including constant fear of sudden evacuation and inadequate shelter; 94% of Gaza’s population, or 1.98 million people, require shelter or non-food assistance, per OCHA’s latest assessment. Ahmed Arhim from Zeitoun said gunfire and drones disrupt sleep, particularly for children, while Safaa Mushtaha questioned where displaced families could possibly relocate.
Despite a ceasefire declared on 10 October 2025, local authorities report 1,334 deaths and 4,429 injuries in Gaza since then, with 24 Palestinians killed in late August, including four children and a woman, according to OCHA. The UN Human Rights Office reiterated calls to halt the violence, noting 21 of the late-August fatalities occurred in air raids.