Parts of Shujaiya lie inside the “yellow line,” an invisible demarcation where the Israeli military withdrew as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/37680503

Abdel Qader Sabbah
Oct 16, 2025

Since the ceasefire went into effect on Friday, the Israeli military has killed at least 23 Palestinians in Gaza, at least five of them in one attack on Shujaiya on Tuesday. The Israeli military admitted to the killings, claiming a group of people approached its soldiers stationed there. That same day, the Israeli military spokesperson reiterated a warning to Palestinians not to approach certain areas in Gaza, including Shujaiya, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia in the north, as well as locations in Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.

Al-Sawwaf, 78, has lived in Shujaiya ever since her family fled there during the Nakba shortly after she was born. “I got married in Shujaiya and gave birth to all my children here—14 of them,” she told Drop Site. Two of Al-Sawwaf’s children, her husband, grandson, and another relative were all killed in the war. Amid a famine and no clean water, Al-Sawwaf’s health has deteriorated. “I used to weigh 86 kilos, now I’m 60. I can’t walk, and I’m ill. I’m sick all day,” she said, breaking down in tears.