DaysofPal- The United Nations has confirmed that Israel has expanded its control in the Gaza Strip through the creation of the “Orange Line,” an addition that extends the previously established “Yellow Line” separating areas of control inside the territory.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization has received maps showing the newly defined line, which has been shared with humanitarian personnel operating in Gaza. He noted that aid teams have been instructed to coordinate their movements in advance with Israeli authorities when crossing the Orange Line.
Dujarric stated that this requirement reflects growing concern over safety conditions. “This request is also an indication that the areas considered unsafe for us are a cause for concern,” he said, adding that discussions with Israel are ongoing to clarify the details and implications of the new boundary.
He emphasized that civilians living near these lines face extremely difficult conditions and are at constant risk. Dujarric also described the Yellow Line as “an indicator, both literally and figuratively, that things are not moving in the right direction.”
Maps reportedly shared by the Israeli military with aid organizations show that the Yellow Line, already covering about 53 percent of Gaza, has been expanded through the addition of the Orange Line. This change further restricts Palestinian presence to a smaller portion of the territory.
The Yellow Line was initially established as a temporary boundary following a ceasefire agreement, marking areas under Israeli military control and zones where Palestinians were allowed to remain, with additional withdrawals expected at later stages.
In February, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would not withdraw “by a millimeter” from the Yellow Line until Hamas is disarmed.
Under the Yellow Line, Palestinians were confined to approximately 47 percent of Gaza’s area. With the introduction of the Orange Line, an additional 11 percent has come under Israeli control, reducing the space available to Palestinians to about 36 percent of the territory.
Since Israel’s withdrawal to this line under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas in October 2025, the Israeli military has reported killing dozens of Palestinians who allegedly crossed it.
The ceasefire agreement followed two years of genocide that began on October 8, 2023, and resulted in widespread destruction across Gaza. According to UN estimates, more than 72,000 Palestinians were killed and a similar number injured, with roughly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure damaged. Reconstruction costs have been estimated at around $70 billion.
The introduction of the Orange Line is now seen by UN officials as a development that could further complicate humanitarian operations and deepen risks for civilians living within an increasingly restricted and volatile environment.
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