The Israeli Army has implemented a second imaginary demarcation in the Gaza Strip, called the “orange line”, which extends beyond the known “yellow line”. This measure requires all humanitarian movements within this perimeter to be coordinated with Israeli forces, consolidating greater control over the territory. According to a humanitarian worker cited by EFE, international actors received information about this line first in October 2025 and then with an update in March 2026.
The expansion of the Israeli military presence follows recent announcements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stated that Israel already controls 70% of Gaza, compared to the 60% declared days earlier and well above the 52% limit established in the truce agreement in effect since October 2025.
Scope and consequences for the population
According to calculations by the Israeli NGO Gisha, the incorporation of the orange line increases Israeli control by an additional 11% of the territory, placing total coverage at around 64% of the enclave. The area functions as a humanitarian coordination area, located between the orange and yellow lines, which acts as a buffer against the militarized zone.
The environment is highly dangerous for residents, as Israel maintains numerous observation and firing posts along the yellow border. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 14,133 households are located between the two lines, while UNRWA maintains at least 37 facilities, including shelters for displaced persons, within the perimeter.
Forced displacement and evacuation orders
In recent weeks, hundreds of families have been forcibly displaced from their homes in areas that are now part of the orange line. In Deir al Balah, in the southeast of central Gaza, witnesses reported that local militias armed by Israel forced residents to leave their homes. Similar situations have been reported in the eastern part of Khan Younis, in the south, with armed men stating that these were orders from Israeli forces.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned about the situation, highlighting that Palestinians are now living in an increasingly reduced space, concentrating approximately 2.1 million people in the remaining 40% of Gaza.
Institutional reaction and coordination
The Israeli military arm that manages civil affairs in the occupied territories, COGAT, has indicated that the boundaries of the orange line are updated according to the assessment of the situation and are not physically marked. The authority added that it does not assume responsibility for the safety of civilians within the perimeter.
The orange line reinforces Israeli presence and the coordination of humanitarian movements, although it poses significant risks for the local population, which is forced to adapt to restrictions on its mobility while military surveillance is maintained in the territory.