A month into the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, some areas are experiencing a return to normalcy. Markets have reopened, children are back in school, and a few restaurants are serving customers after two years of conflict. However, the destruction across the region is extensive, and many parts of Gaza remain under Israeli military control. This situation has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in limbo, unable to return to their homes.

Concerns are rising within the community about the potential creation of two distinct Gazas, neither of which would be suitable for living. The Israeli-controlled area encompasses more than 51 percent of the strip, separated from the vacated regions by large yellow blocks placed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prevent Palestinians from crossing. Many Palestinians are struggling to grasp the prospect of peace, especially as Israel continues to conduct airstrikes in response to alleged violations of the truce by Hamas. With no clear timeline for the IDF's withdrawal, fears are growing that some may never be able to cross the so-called "Yellow Line."

U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan outlines that Israeli forces will gradually withdraw, and reconstruction in Gaza will begin once certain conditions are met, including the return of all remaining hostages and the disarmament of Hamas. However, the initial agreement lacks detailed provisions beyond the first phase.

Among those unable to return home is Kamel Al Sheikh, 54, who left Shejaiya, a heavily impacted area in eastern Gaza City, shortly after the war began in October 2023. The IDF's campaign to control Gaza City has left Shejaiya in ruins. Al Sheikh expressed his frustration, stating, "It's forbidden, it's beyond the yellow line. I did not try [to go there], but my brothers went and could not reach the site."

For the first time since the ceasefire began, access was granted to an area in northern Gaza under Israeli military control. The devastation was evident, with much of the community reduced to rubble. Nasser Al Najjar, 65, originally from Jabalia, described his experience trying to return to his home. "Beyond the yellow line, or to be more precise it is a red line that you can't cross, and therefore we can't go there," he said. He recounted an incident where he was shot at while attempting to look at his home, which had been destroyed by missiles.

The IDF has indicated that areas like Shejaiya could be among the first for reconstruction, claiming some locations are free from Hamas. A senior IDF official stated, "We are conducting these discussions with our allies in order to create these places as the first places of the demonstration of how life could be here without Hamas, free from Hamas."

However, the timeline for reconstruction remains uncertain, and the disarmament of Hamas is a significant hurdle. Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of the security cabinet, expressed skepticism about rebuilding Gaza while Hamas remains armed. He stated, "I can't believe that Gaza will be rebuilt the way that the Western countries and the Arab countries who are relevant for it think it should be, as long as Gaza Strip is dominated by Hamas directly or indirectly."

Dichter also warned that the ceasefire could end quickly if necessary, emphasizing that the conflict is not over. Meanwhile, more than half of Gaza remains under Israeli control, and the timeline for Palestinian access to these areas is unclear. Journalist Wissam Afifeh, who has worked for Hamas-controlled media, criticized the ongoing partition of Gaza, suggesting it reflects U.S. concessions to the Netanyahu government. He warned that the current situation could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire agreement, stating, "The yellow line satisfies the Israelis, it satisfies Netanyahu's goals but can also bring about the collapse of the whole Trump plan."

Afifeh believes there is an attempt to create two Gazas: one under Israeli security and another as a refugee zone for those labeled as "terrorists." He concluded that this approach embodies an Israeli vision of displacing a significant portion of the Gaza population.