OUR DRIVE-A new map of the Gaza region published secretly by the Israeli military more than a month ago places thousands of Palestinian refugees in an expanded restricted area.
According to the Israeli military, the boundaries of this area can change at any time according to operational assessments.
This map was revealed to the public after Reuters obtained information from two sources working in Gaza.
Also Read: Windows Insider Update: Microsoft Reorganizes Channels to Test New Features
Israel reportedly sent the map to humanitarian aid groups in mid-March 2026, but did not release it publicly.
The restricted area marked with the orange line covers the estimated 11 percent of Gaza outside the “Yellow Line”, territory that Israeli forces have occupied since the October 2024 ceasefire.
Together, the two lines enclose nearly two-thirds of Gaza under effective Israeli control.
Also Read: OpenAI Prepares GPT-5.5: The Latest AI Model with a High Level of Cybersecurity Focus
Jad Isaac, Director General of the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem, stated that this condition places Israel in control of at least 64 percent of the Gaza area.
As a result, nearly two million residents are practically confined to the narrow strip still controlled by Hamas along the coast.
The Israeli military agency that controls access to Gaza, COGAT, defines the area beside the Yellow Line as an area where international organizations are obliged to coordinate with the military.
Also Read: Iran Claims Nuclear and Missile Technology as National Assets Equivalent to Territorial Borders
COGAT said these boundaries are updated according to operational situations to protect personnel in complex environments, but declined to comment on the frequency with which the maps are updated.
The expansion of this limited area has had fatal impacts. At least three foreign aid workers, two each from UNICEF and one from WHO, have died as a result of Israeli attacks in the area between the two lines since mid-March.
This condition also triggers extraordinary fear for civilians. Rani Ashour, a refugee near Gaza City, expressed residents’ confusion over the ever-shifting borders.
Also Read: Redmi Pad 2.9.7 Specifications: Affordable Tablet with Wide Screen and Stable Performance
“People don’t know which is which. The line is here today, you sleep, and you wake up, and you find the line has crossed you,” Ashour was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Amjad al-Shawa, chairman of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, also emphasized the chaos occurring on the ground.
“Residents don’t know where the lines start or end. One day, the boundaries are in one location, and the next day they shift without warning,” Shawa said.
Also read: Scientists warn of potential extreme solar storms that could paralyze global infrastructure
Since the October ceasefire, medical teams report Israeli fire has killed more than 800 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority in areas near the Yellow Line. Meanwhile, four Israeli soldiers died in the same period.
This expansion of control goes beyond the US-brokered ceasefire deal, which now casts doubt on President Trump’s Gaza plans.
The plan is known to have been delayed for months due to the Iran war and disputes regarding the disarmament of Hamas militants.***
