Israel now controls nearly 2/3 of Gaza Strip – report

The IDF has gradually expanded its control over the Gaza Strip, according to maps issued by Israel to aid groups, with a new “Orange Line” established.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel has expanded the area under its control in the Gaza Strip, according to maps distributed by Israel to humanitarian organizations.

According to a report by Reuters, the Israeli military quietly provided updated maps to aid groups in mid-March outlining an expanded “restricted zone” inside Gaza.

The maps include a newly marked “orange line,” designating areas where humanitarian organizations must coordinate movement with the Israeli military. The restricted zone accounts for roughly 11% of Gaza’s territory beyond the previously established ceasefire boundary, known as the “yellow line.” Combined, the areas place nearly two-thirds of the Gaza Strip under Israeli control or restriction.

In October 2025, after the Gaza ceasefire went into effect, the IDF had direct control of 53% of the Gaza Strip.

The new maps, however, show the IDF’s security perimeter now spans some 64% of the coastal enclave.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested a month ago that Israel already controls a substantial portion of Gaza, saying, that in Gaza, more than half of the Strip’s territory is under Israeli control.

“We are the ones who attack and initiate, and we are the ones who surprise our enemies,” Netanyahu added.

Israeli officials say the expanded zone is intended to facilitate humanitarian operations in a “complex operational environment,” while safeguarding personnel. The military has said civilians are not the target of these measures and that the boundaries are subject to change based on operational needs.

The Israeli defense establishment has described areas seized in Gaza and on the Syrian and Lebanese frontiers as “buffer zones” and “security zones,” aimed at creating strategic depth between Israeli border communities and territory used by terrorist organizations.

However, aid organizations and Gazans criticized the IDF over the shifting boundaries, claiming the updated maps reportedly place thousands of displaced Gazans inside areas that could be considered restricted or dangerous.

Israel has not publicly released the maps, and it remains unclear how frequently the boundaries are updated or how they are communicated to civilians on the ground.