Israel Expands Gaza Strikes Beyond Ceasefire Line

Published: 27 November 2025 Thursday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Israel has intensified its aerial attacks on southern and central Gaza, striking multiple areas that lie beyond the so-called yellow line — the boundary Israel agreed not to cross during the current ceasefire arrangement. The strikes mark a deepening breach of the fragile seven-week truce, raising renewed fears of a wider military escalation and further complicating already-stalled diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region.

The latest wave of attacks occurred early Thursday morning, targeting residential structures and densely populated neighbourhoods in central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp and the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis. Al Jazeera reporters on the ground confirmed the strikes, stating that the bombardment carried on for several minutes, sending fireballs into the air and triggering widespread panic among already displaced families.

The renewed Israeli air campaign came despite repeated international appeals urging both parties to uphold the ceasefire, which has been described as “fragile but essential” by humanitarian agencies operating inside Gaza. Gaza’s Civil Defence Force accused Israel of “multiple, deliberate, and escalating violations,” stating that hundreds of similar attacks have taken place since the ceasefire began, often targeting areas specifically designated as no-strike zones.

For residents of Gaza, the resumption of heavy bombardment feels like a return to the darkest days of Israel’s ongoing war on the territory — a war that Palestinian authorities and numerous international human rights organisations have described as genocidal in its scale and relentless targeting of civilians.

Under the terms of the truce negotiated earlier this year, Israel committed to withdrawing its ground forces behind a demarcation known as the yellow line, a zone intended to create a buffer between military personnel and civilian populations. The agreement was meant to reduce direct confrontations and pave the way for humanitarian aid deliveries, as well as uphold certain phases of the hostage-prisoner exchange.

But Thursday’s airstrikes — which extended kilometres beyond the yellow line — underscore what Palestinian officials say is a “consistent pattern of Israeli violations,” repeated almost daily since the ceasefire began.

Residents of Bureij camp, one of the areas struck, described being jolted from their sleep by the sound of missiles smashing into surrounding streets. The explosion shattered windows, tore through the fragile sheet-metal structures many displaced families currently live in, and left at least several people injured, according to first responders.

In Khan Younis, the strikes hit close to areas that have been heavily damaged in previous assaults, where thousands of displaced families are still sheltering in makeshift tents after losing their homes earlier in the conflict. Witnesses reported clouds of smoke drifting across the skyline shortly after dawn.

As airstrikes shook Gaza, the Israeli military simultaneously launched a series of late-night and early-morning raids across the occupied West Bank. Raids were reported in Qalqilya, Tubas, Hebron, Tulkarem, and Nablus, with residents describing the operations as among the most aggressive in recent weeks.

In Tubas, Israeli soldiers conducted field interrogations and assaulted at least 25 Palestinians, who later required medical attention, according to a Palestinian Red Crescent official cited by the state news agency Wafa. Videos posted on social media — verified by international news outlets — show heavily armed Israeli troops detaining men in the street, blindfolding some, and forcing others to kneel while being questioned.

Homes were ransacked, property damaged, and several people taken into custody. Israeli forces provided no statement on the reasons for the arrests or the scale of the operation.

Rights groups say the raids are part of a broader pattern of escalating repression in the West Bank, where Israeli forces have significantly intensified military operations since the Gaza war began. Detentions, home demolitions, road closures, and restrictions on movement have become routine across Palestinian towns and cities.

The first stage of the ceasefire agreement — which revolves around the exchange of captives and the repatriation of bodies — moved closer to completion on Wednesday. Israel transferred the remains of 15 Palestinian prisoners to Gaza authorities, one day after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad returned the body of an Israeli captive.

With these transfers, Palestinian armed factions have now fulfilled nearly all obligations outlined in the initial phase, having released all living captives and returned the remains of 26 of the 28 individuals covered by the agreement.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the latest handover demonstrates the group’s “steadfast commitment to fully complete the exchange process,” despite what he described as “major obstacles and constant Israeli violations” that have undermined the implementation of the truce.

Qassem added that Hamas remains willing to fulfil the next phase of negotiations if international mediators can guarantee Israeli compliance — something that appears increasingly uncertain given the intensifying military activity across Gaza and the West Bank.

Humanitarian organisations operating in Gaza have expressed grave concern over the escalating airstrikes. Aid deliveries, already limited by Israeli restrictions, have become even more difficult due to the renewed bombings and road closures.

Several NGOs say that if Israel fully abandons the yellow-line framework, the entire ceasefire could collapse within days, plunging Gaza back into a full-scale military onslaught.

Medical facilities, already operating at a fraction of their capacity due to damage sustained in earlier attacks, fear they will be unable to cope with a new influx of casualties. Hospitals in central and southern Gaza report shortages of fuel, surgical supplies, antibiotics, and even basic painkillers. Doctors have repeatedly warned that they are being forced to perform emergency procedures in conditions that violate international medical standards.

Even during the ceasefire, UN agencies estimate that more than 80% of Gazans do not have consistent access to food, while clean water remains scarce. Many families depend entirely on small humanitarian distributions that vary by location and availability. For them, renewed airstrikes mean both immediate danger and further disruptions to essential aid.

Despite the severity of the violations, global reaction to the latest airstrikes has been limited. Several European governments expressed “concern” but avoided issuing direct condemnation. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said Britain urges “all parties to respect the ceasefire terms,” but stopped short of acknowledging Israeli violations.

In the US, officials reiterated similar calls while emphasising Israel’s “right to defend itself” — language that Palestinian leaders say effectively greenlights continued aggression.

Regional observers warn that international reluctance to hold Israel accountable is contributing to the erosion of the ceasefire, further endangering civilians and complicating mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations.

For people in Gaza, Thursday’s airstrikes are a chilling reminder that the relative lull of the ceasefire can be shattered at any time. For Palestinians in the West Bank, the simultaneous raids underscore that life under occupation continues to grow increasingly dangerous.