Danish Refugee Council: Israel's 'Yellow Line' Expanding, 86% of Gaza Displaced
Key Points
- Danish Refugee Council reported on October 1, 2026 that 1.8 million Palestinians, or 86% of Gaza's population, are living in displacement camps.
- The NGO says Israel's 'Yellow Line' is expanding westward, with the territory inside it representing 70% of Gaza according to the DRC's assessment.
- Only 36% of displacement camp sites have designated managers coordinating services, limiting access to aid and creating inhumane living conditions.
The expansion of the Yellow Line has created severe operational constraints for humanitarian organizations. The DRC report stated that aid organizations "describe being unable to operate within several kilometers of the line, either due to access constraints or security concerns," preventing crucial aid and supplies from reaching displacement camps near the boundary.
Breakdown of Camp Conditions and Site Management Failures
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The makeshift tent shelters and camps where more than 80% of Gaza residents are believed to be living face numerous critical shortcomings. The DRC and the Agricultural Development Association (PARC) identified multiple deficiencies in these informal sites, though the report emphasized inadequate site management as a defining structural problem.
Only 36% of displacement camp sites currently have designated site managers—typically national NGOs—coordinating services and managing conditions. Sites with such partners "have a structured community channel through which a gap, such as a collapsing cesspit, a missing water delivery, or an unsafe walkway, can be identified, escalated, and resolved," the report noted. The absence of management at 64% of sites means residents lack formal mechanisms to report or address critical infrastructure failures.
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The DRC and PARC issued multiple recommendations to different stakeholders. The organizations called on Israel, "as the occupying power of Gaza," to "halt the further expansion of the Yellow Line" and to "disclose its current and future route transparently." They also appealed to the international community, donors, and humanitarian actors for support in addressing displacement conditions.
The findings come nearly three years after the October 7 terror attacks that triggered the war, and approximately one year after the phased October 10 ceasefire plan that was intended to end the conflict. Israel has not yet commented on the DRC's newly released report. The DRC's findings align with other international documentation of the Yellow Line's westward movement, though disagreement persists over the exact percentage of Gaza territory currently controlled under the military arrangement.
What Happens Next
The DRC's report is likely to intensify pressure on international bodies and donor countries regarding humanitarian access in Gaza. Israel may face continued scrutiny over the Yellow Line's expansion and its impact on displacement. The discrepancy between Israeli government figures (60%) and NGO assessments (70%) will likely remain contested unless transparent disclosure of the boundary occurs. Humanitarian organizations may escalate calls for access corridors independent of the Yellow Line's reach.
Sources: DW and other international news outlets.
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