Inside Gaza’s new ‘Yellow Line’: Why Israel’s temporary divide may become permanent

Gaza’s fragile new dividing line

What began as a temporary cease-fire boundary between Israeli and Hamas-controlled zones has hardened into a physical and political frontier. The Israeli military calls it the “yellow line,” a demarcation that roughly cuts Gaza in half. Along this line, Israel is reinforcing sand berms, barbed wire, and tank positions while constructing roads and military outposts. Officials say only 10-20 percent of the line’s permanent markings — yellow-painted concrete blocks — are complete, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Strategic geography and the Trump-era blueprint

The yellow line follows the outline of the 2020 Trump peace plan, which envisioned a divided Gaza until an international security force could take over. Under that plan, Israel would eventually pull back if Hamas disarmed — something that has not happened. Instead, the group continues to operate in southern Gaza, retaining roughly 15,000 fighters and much of its command structure. Israel’s hold over the high ground along the yellow line, especially near Shujaiya and southeastern provinces like Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo, gives it a defensive advantage.

The US-Israel rebuilding plan

Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump adviser Jared Kushner recently outlined a proposal to rebuild Gaza only in Israeli-controlled areas. These zones would house displaced Palestinians until Hamas relinquishes its weapons. Israel has begun work on new water and electricity infrastructure along the yellow line to support this plan and is considering aid hubs on both sides of the divide. Hundreds of Palestinians who publicly opposed Hamas have already crossed into the Israeli-controlled section seeking safety.

Continued skirmishes despite cease-fire

Although the cease-fire remains officially in place, gunfire and small-scale attacks persist. Hamas fighters have launched strikes at Israeli troops positioned near the line, including one incident that killed two soldiers in southern Gaza. The Israeli military reports that Hamas units continue to operate through tunnel networks extending beneath Israeli-controlled zones.

A fragile balance between defence and division

For now, the yellow line serves as both a buffer and a symbol: a physical barrier meant to prevent further conflict but also a marker of Gaza’s uncertain political future. Analysts in Israel describe it as “a creative necessity” — a temporary border that could define the next phase of Trump’s Middle East policy if Hamas refuses to cede power. On the ground, however, it feels increasingly like a permanent separation — with concrete walls, aid corridors, and two realities forming on either side.