Residents in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis say renewed Israeli bombardment has shattered a fragile calm and intensified fears of forced displacement along the so-called Yellow Line. The demarcation, established under a ceasefire, has increasingly come to symbolise a new and uncertain border for Palestinians living nearby.
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In villages east of Khan Yunis, families remain trapped between destroyed homes and relentless strikes. Umm Ahmed, a mother of five whose house in Bani Suheila lies in ruins, said her children wake in terror at every explosion, asking where they can flee — a question she cannot answer.
Many residents have chosen to stay beside the rubble of their homes, pitching tents rather than moving west of the Yellow Line. They say displacement would mean overcrowded camps, scarce food, and little access to water in areas such as Al-Mawasi, where tens of thousands have already sought refuge.
A Quadcopter drops a bomb towards a group of citizens near the Yellow Line east of Khan Younis. This is not fucking normal wake up people. pic.twitter.com/AlFZ5v68HY
— lifeline4gaza dot com (@ros_ie9) December 23, 2025
The Yellow Line was drawn as part of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, after months of devastating war. Under the truce, Israeli forces withdrew to positions east of the line, but residents say shelling and demolitions have continued in surrounding neighbourhoods.
Earlier this month, Israel’s army chief described the Yellow Line as a “new border” and a forward defensive line. Palestinian officials, however, view it as a mechanism to pressure civilians into leaving their land permanently.
Khan Yunis Mayor Alaa al-Batta said the bombardments violated the ceasefire and were aimed at frightening residents into moving west. Locals such as Mahmud Baraka from Khuzaa described constant artillery fire that made daily life feel no different from wartime.
Despite the danger, some residents remain defiant. Abdel Hamid, 70, said he would not abandon his home north of Khan Yunis, insisting that leaving would only deepen the tragedy. For now, many Gazans remain caught between fear, displacement, and an uncertain future.