- Young Palestinian gunned down by the Yellow Line by Israeli forces
By SCM REPORTER
ISRAELI forces have been accused of gunning down a young child near a controversial “no-go” zone in northern Gaza.
The youngster was reportedly shot on Tuesday in Beit Lahia, a town reeling from months of heavy bombardment.
Local reports suggest the child was fired upon after wandering too close to the so-called “Yellow Line”—a deadly boundary imposed by Israel following the October ceasefire.
Witnesses claim the victim was targeted by snipers stationed along the perimeter, despite posing no visible threat. The “Yellow Line” has become a flashpoint for violence in recent weeks.
It marks a strict buffer zone established by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to keep Gazans away from the border fence, but critics say the line is poorly marked and has become a “killing field” for civilians.
The shooting is the latest in a string of incidents that have seen tensions boil over in the north of the Strip. While the IDF maintains that its troops only open fire on “suspicious figures” or those breaching security protocols, human rights groups have slammed the use of lethal force against minors.
”This isn’t a border; it’s a death trap,” said one local resident. “The children don’t understand where the line is. They are just trying to find food or play, and then the shots ring out.”
Background: The Buffer Zone Bloodshed
The conflict in Gaza has entered a punishing new phase since the temporary October ceasefire collapsed.
Here is the context behind the current crisis:
The Yellow Line: A restricted military zone inside Gazan territory. Israel claims it is necessary for national security to prevent cross-border raids.
Beit Lahia: Once a farming hub known for its strawberries, the northern town is now a hollowed-out shell of ruins, largely cut off from aid.
Civilian Risk: The UN has repeatedly warned that the “buffer zones” effectively shrink the livable area for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, forcing them into increasingly cramped and dangerous conditions.
The Israeli military has not yet issued a formal statement on Tuesday’s shooting, but previous incidents have been justified as “neutralizing threats” to the border fence.
