Renewed strikes east of the Yellow Line near Khan Yunis have shattered a fragile ceasefire and left residents fearful and trapped between bombardment and displacement. Tens of thousands live in tents or ruined homes in Israeli-controlled areas and face the prospect of moving west to overcrowded camps like Al-Mawasi. Palestinian officials warn the Yellow Line risks becoming a tool for permanent displacement, while Israel says it is targeting suspected militants.
Gazans Trapped by a 'New Border' as Strikes Resume East of Khan Yunis
Most of Gaza's more than two million people have been displaced at least once by the war (Bashar Taleb)(Bashar Taleb/AFP/AFP)
When her children, shaking with fear, ask where the family can go to escape renewed Israeli strikes around Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, Umm Ahmed has no answer. Recent attacks have shattered the fragile calm created by a ceasefire that has largely held since October 10, and residents say the strikes have concentrated on neighbourhoods east of the so-called Yellow Line.
Lives Between Bombardment and Displacement
More than two years after a devastating war erupted, tens of thousands of Gazans still shelter in tents or damaged homes in areas where the Israeli army maintains control and operates checkpoints. Many now fear they will be pushed west of the Yellow Line into overcrowded camps such as Al-Mawasi, where makeshift settlements already house tens of thousands and resources are scarce.
Voices From Khan Yunis
'We don't sleep at night because of fear. The bombardments in the east are relentless,' said Umm Ahmed, 40, whose home in Bani Suheila was completely destroyed but whose family refused to leave the ruins. 'Staying close to our destroyed home is easier than facing the unknown.'
Other residents describe near-constant artillery and the demolition of houses. 'It feels like we are still living in a war zone,' said Mahmud Baraka, 45, from Khuzaa. Many see the strikes as a tactic to intimidate residents and drive them westward.
Military Lines and Political Friction
Under the truce, Israeli forces withdrew to positions east of the Yellow Line. Earlier this month, Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the Yellow Line as the 'new border', calling it a forward defensive and operational line for Israeli communities. Palestinian officials, including Khan Yunis Mayor Alaa al-Batta, say the line risks becoming a mechanism for permanent displacement: 'The objective is to frighten residents, expel them from their areas, and force them west,' he said, denouncing the strikes as violations of the ceasefire.
The Israeli military did not respond to AFP on this report, though it has regularly said it conducts strikes near the Yellow Line against suspected militants.
Humanitarian Toll
The human cost of the conflict remains immense. The war began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack that Israel says killed 1,221 people, an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Gaza's health ministry reports more than 70,000 people killed since the conflict began. The vast majority of the territory's more than two million residents have been displaced, many repeatedly, and aid agencies warn of a dire humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, water and shelter.
Outlook
For now, many families remain trapped between the immediate danger of bombardment and the prospect of displacement into already overcrowded camps. 'We will not leave... this is our land,' said Abdel Hamid, 70, who lives north of Khan Yunis with his five children. But as strikes continue and resources remain limited, uncertainty and fear are mounting across the region.
What to Watch: Whether ceasefire violations escalate, pressure on residents to cross the Yellow Line increases, and whether humanitarian access to affected areas improves.
