Satellite images and eyewitness accounts from the Gaza Strip have revealed a new facet of the humanitarian tragedy Palestinians are experiencing following the ceasefire. While the images document the close proximity of tents and overcrowding in displacement camps, the testimonies reveal repeated displacement, a constant fear of approaching what has become known as the “Yellow Line,” and health and security risks that haunt residents even within their shelters.
Images analyzed by Al Jazeera’s Open Source Unit show large numbers of tents concentrated in limited areas west of the “Yellow Line,” at a time when Israeli field restrictions continue to expand, forcing more residents to leave their homes or remain near dangerous areas.
The impact of the overcrowding extends beyond the lack of space. Displaced people in Gaza have documented the spread of rodents, snakes, and insects among their shelters, coinciding with heat waves and the deterioration of sanitation and hygiene services. This reveals a reality that satellite images do not show regarding the overcrowding of tents.
More than two million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, where the area the Israeli army allows them to reside in is shrinking. The majority of the population is concentrated west of the “Yellow Line,” established by the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2015. This line separates areas under Israeli military control to the east from areas where Palestinians are permitted to reside to the west, and it covers approximately 53% of the Gaza Strip.
Satellite imagery reflects the shrinking space available for housing and shelter as the “yellow squares” that define the areas where residents are allowed to live continue to expand. The expansion of the Yellow Line exacerbates overcrowding in the available areas. Residents of Deir al-Balah reported that on July 17, the relocation of “yellow concrete blocks” by 300 to 350 meters westward forced families to flee to already densely populated areas, as new agricultural lands and residential areas were incorporated into the line’s boundaries. Field footage from eastern Deir al-Balah shows families moving their furniture and belongings as the Yellow Line draws closer to their homes. One resident, as he gathered his belongings, said he was living in constant fear, while another said, “Today we were displaced and made homeless because of the zero lines.”
