In Gaza City’s Zeitoun district, Palestinian resident Assem Dawla was seen loading mattresses and belongings onto a truck as concrete yellow blocks—marking the boundary of Israel’s expanding military zone—stood among the rubble nearby. Dawla reported that this was the seventh or eighth forced relocation for his family since the onset of the recent conflict, a result of Israeli evacuation orders and what local residents refer to as the advancing “yellow line.”
Zeitoun is among at least five locations across Gaza where residents and Hamas officials report that Israel has recently pushed forward its military-controlled zone. This so-called yellow line was established under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed in October 2025, aimed at reducing hostilities after two years of intense conflict sparked by Hamas attacks on southern Israel. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have steadily increased their presence, moving the demarcation line deeper into Gaza’s urban areas, including neighborhoods such as Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, Tuffah, Shejaia, and northern Rafah.
The October ceasefire, introduced under the administration of then-President Donald Trump, envisioned a comprehensive peace plan that included increased humanitarian aid, civilian Palestinian governance, the disarmament of Hamas, Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and deployment of an international security force. However, progress on these objectives has been limited. By late April 2026, Israeli forces controlled roughly 64% of Gaza territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since indicated intentions to extend control over up to 70% of the enclave.
Gaza’s nearly 2 million residents, mostly concentrated along the coastal strip controlled by Hamas, live amid widespread destruction and severe humanitarian distress. Multiple interviews with residents from affected areas revealed that Israeli forces have, over the past 10 days, moved the yellow markers forward, prompting new waves of displacement. Some residents received advance warnings through text messages and drone-mounted loudspeakers before being ordered to evacuate.
The Israeli military stated that its operations in Gaza are focused on protecting Israel from hostile attacks and that the yellow line serves as a clearly marked security boundary to minimize civilian contact with troops. Military spokespersons described their tactics as involving a security zone, physical barriers, intelligence gathering, technological means, and active troop deployments within Gaza.
For many Palestinians like Dawla and his family, repeated displacement has become an agonizing routine—salvaging what little remains of their possessions before moving to areas designated as safe by Israeli forces, often under cover of darkness. Dawla’s mother, Umm Sami, described how the military’s proximity and bombardments forced their evacuation once again, underscoring the ongoing instability faced by civilians.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on July 20 that an Israeli displacement order in Zeitoun resulted in 30 families being forced out of their tents, which residents said were subsequently destroyed. As Palestinians continue to navigate the relentless cycle of displacement, many express deep uncertainty about their future. Dawla summarized the prevailing reality, stating, “The whole war is displacement, displacement. You can’t stay anywhere without [Israel] telling you, ‘Get out of here, we want to come in.’”