Key points
- Israeli fire reported near “yellow line”
- Children among those killed, medics say
- Palestinians fear permanent buffer zone
CAIRO: Palestinians living near a poorly marked ceasefire line in Gaza say they face daily danger, as Israeli troops fire on anyone who crosses or lingers near the boundary, sometimes killing civilians, including children.
The so-called “yellow line” marks the limit to which Israeli forces withdrew under an October ceasefire agreement. While some sections are marked with yellow barrels or concrete blocks, residents and experts say the line is unmarked in places and inconsistently laid out, creating deadly confusion, reports AP News.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 447 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, with at least 77 shot near the line. Among them were teenagers and young children. Israeli military officials say most of those killed were militants and insist troops follow rules of engagement, issuing warnings and firing warning shots before using live fire.
Residents dispute that account. Ahmed Abu Jahal, who lives less than 100 metres from one marker in Gaza City, said people avoid the area entirely out of fear. “No one dares to get close,” he said.
Gunfire
Medical workers report near-daily casualties from gunfire linked to the line. Fadel Naeem, director of Gaza City’s Al-Ahli hospital, said wounded civilians regularly arrive after straying too close, often unable to see where the boundary lies amid widespread destruction.
Several fatal incidents involved children. Seventeen-year-old Zaher Shamia was shot near the line in northern Gaza in December and later run over by an armoured bulldozer, according to doctors. In southern Gaza, a three-year-old girl was killed by gunfire while playing outside her family’s tent.
Mapping experts say markers have been placed deeper into Gaza than shown on official maps, expanding the Israeli-controlled zone.
As negotiations over the next phase of the ceasefire stall, Palestinians fear the buffer zone may become permanent. “The line is getting very close,” Abu Jahal said.
