Gaza’s civil defence agency has reported a devastating incident where nine members of a single Palestinian family were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a bus. This tragic event occurred on Friday, October 17, 2025, after the Israeli military confirmed it had targeted a vehicle that allegedly crossed the designated “yellow line”.
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the civil defence agency operating under Hamas authority, confirmed on Saturday, October 18, that “civil defence crews were able to recover nine bodies following the Israeli occupation’s targeting of a bus carrying displaced persons east of the Zeitun neighbourhood yesterday.”
According to Mr. Bassal, the victims belonged to the Abu Shabaan family and were tragically killed as they attempted to visit their home in the Zeitun neighbourhood.
The “Yellow Line” Incident
The Israeli military provided its account, stating that a vehicle was identified crossing the “yellow line” – a critical boundary where Israeli troops are positioned as per the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
In a statement, the military claimed that “the troops fired warning shots toward the suspicious vehicle, but the vehicle continued to approach the troops in a way that caused an imminent threat to them.”
Consequently, “the troops opened fire to remove the threat, in accordance with the agreement,” the statement added.
This incident adds to a series of reported violations since the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas began its second week. The military has consistently stated that its troops have fired upon individuals who either approached or crossed the contentious “yellow line”.
Since the ceasefire commenced, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have attempted to return to northern Gaza, hoping to find their homes. However, many are finding it incredibly difficult to even recognize familiar landmarks amidst the widespread destruction caused by over two years of conflict.
Eyewitnesses in Gaza, speaking to AFP, described their struggle to locate their former residences or even recognizable areas in neighborhoods now entirely buried beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings and debris.