A newly released report by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) reveals that approximately 1.8 million Palestinians, representing 86% of Gaza’s population, continue to endure inhumane living conditions in displacement sites nearly three years after the October 7 attacks that ignited the conflict. The findings, published on Thursday, coincide with the one-year anniversary of the phased ceasefire plan initiated on October 10, which was intended to conclude the war.
“The October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza was supposed to end civilians’ suffering. Nearly a year on, it exists largely in name only. Displacement in Gaza has not ended; it has changed shape,” the report states. The data is derived from group discussions with 195 individuals residing in internal displacement camps across five Gaza governorates.
Titled “Confined by Design: The Human Cost of Protracted Displacement in Gaza,” the document accuses Israel of enforcing a policy of prolonged displacement since the ceasefire agreement was reached. A central element of this policy is the so-called “Yellow Line,” a demarcation border separating areas controlled by the Israeli military in eastern Gaza from the rest of the territory. According to the DRC, this line is progressively shifting westward, effectively compressing families into just 30% of Gaza’s landmass.
Alan Moseley, the DRC country director for the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasized that the expanding boundary is the defining feature of the current ceasefire era. He noted that humanitarian organizations are often unable to operate within several kilometers of the line due to access restrictions and security threats, preventing vital aid from reaching camps near the border. While other entities, including the United Nations and the Israeli government, have also observed the westward movement of the Yellow Line, specific details vary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated that 60% of Gaza’s territory lies within the line, though he acknowledged plans for further expansion.
The report details severe deficiencies in the informal tent shelters and makeshift camps where the majority of residents live. Key findings include an 80% rate of water shortages for both drinking and washing, reliance on outdoor cesspits, and multiple families sharing single latrines, which heightens the risk of gender-based violence. Infestations of rats and rodents are rampant due to unsanitary conditions, and food scarcity is compounded by a lack of cooking infrastructure, increasing the risk of burns and injuries.
Health and safety crises are also prevalent. More than 4,000 chickenpox cases were recorded in Khan Younis displacement camps in July alone. Medical infrastructure remains critically lacking, with only half of hospitals and slightly more than a third of primary healthcare centers still functioning. Education has been disrupted for nearly three years in some areas, and residents face ongoing security risks from artillery strikes, drones, stray gunfire, and unexploded ordnance.
The DRC also highlighted a critical absence of site management mechanisms. Only 36% of camps have a designated site manager, typically from a national NGO, to coordinate services and address structural issues such as collapsing cesspits or unsafe walkways. The organization warned of rising domestic violence risks, citing limited facilities and the deteriorating mental health of adult males.
In response, the DRC and the Agricultural Development Association (PARC) issued recommendations directed at the Israeli government, the international community, donors, and conflict parties. They called for a complete cessation of hostilities, protection for civilians and humanitarian workers, guaranteed humanitarian access, and the establishment of a UN mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations. Specifically, they urged Israel to halt the expansion of the Yellow Line, transparently disclose its route, stop constructing permanent military infrastructure, and provide assurances that current troop positions are not intended to be permanent.
The report further criticized the decline in political and donor interest over the past year, noting that conditions have worsened despite reduced attention. Israel has not yet commented on the new findings.
How can international aid actually reach these camps when access is restricted near the front lines? The logistics seem impossible under these conditions.
I was unaware the Yellow Line was expanding westward, confining people to just thirty percent of the land. This detail changes everything about how we understand the current situation.
It is devastating to hear that the ceasefire exists largely in name only. The human cost described here is heartbreaking.