# Israel expands control of Gaza beyond ceasefire line

> Nearly two-thirds of Gaza is now under Israeli military control, squeezing Palestinians into ever-smaller territory despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
- Title: Israel expands control of Gaza beyond ceasefire line
- Summary: Nearly two-thirds of Gaza is now under Israeli military control, squeezing Palestinians into ever-smaller territory despite a US-brokered ceasefire…
- Keywords: israel, gaza, palestine, yellow line, ceasefire, military occupation, displacement, news, world, politics, expands, control
- Source: Al Jazeera — https://aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/12/maps-show-how-israels-yellow-line-keeps-squeezing-palestinians-in-gaza?traffic_source=rss
- Author: Mohammed Haddad
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: israel, gaza, palestine, yellow line, ceasefire, military occupation, displacement, news, world, politics
## Israel expands beyond ceasefire line
Israel has expanded military occupation in Gaza in violation of a US-brokered ceasefire, forcing Palestinians into an ever-smaller share of the besieged territory devastated by ongoing war.
## The Yellow Line was supposed to hold
The original Yellow Line, established under President Donald Trump's twenty-point plan, marked where Israeli forces initially withdrew. They were expected to withdraw gradually but have seized more territory instead.
## Concrete blocks move west overnight
On Sunday, Israeli forces moved yellow concrete blocks dozens of metres west in Shujayea, a neighbourhood in southeastern Gaza City, forcing Palestinian families to flee and expanding Israeli military control.
## Gaza before the war was densely packed
Before the war, Gaza was a three hundred sixty-five square kilometre territory with about six thousand people per square kilometre, similar to Nairobi or London.Each person had about one hundred sixty square metres of land.
## Ceasefire confined Palestinians to half
Under the ceasefire, the Yellow Line left Israel in control of fifty-three percent of Gaza and confined Palestinians to forty-seven percent, about one hundred seventy-two square kilometres.Population density doubled to twelve thousand per square kilometre.
## Israel now controls seventy percent
Since the ceasefire, Israeli forces have repeatedly moved yellow concrete blocks farther west. Israel itself said it controls about seventy percent of Gaza, according to a UN official who told the Security Council in June.
## Two point one million in thirty-five percent
Two point one million Palestinians are now confined to about thirty-five percent of Gaza, roughly one hundred twenty-eight square kilometres.Population density has nearly tripled to about sixteen thousand per square kilometre, close to central Tokyo.
## Approaching the line can be deadly
Israel treats areas beyond the Yellow Line as a free-fire zone. Nearly one thousand five hundred people have been killed across Gaza since the ceasefire was announced, many shot near the line.
## Key takeaway

Israel has expanded military control beyond the Yellow Line established under Trump's ceasefire plan, confining two point one million Palestinians to thirty-five percent of Gaza with population density approaching central Tokyo.