On Monday morning, two Palestinian men were shot dead by Israeli occupation forces in separate incidents in northern and central Gaza, while a young girl was also injured in the south. Meanwhile, an elderly woman passed away due to the freezing weather amid a collapsed shelter and humanitarian system.
In the northeast of Gaza City, Mohammed Khaled Abdel Moneim was killed by a gunshot to the head in the Al-Zarqa area of Al-Tuffah neighbourhood.
In the central Gaza Strip, Majdi Noufal was killed by an Israeli drone strike near Block 12 east of Al-Bureij refugee camp.
A young girl was also injured by Israeli fire west of Khan Younis in the south.
These incidents raise the death toll since 11 October to 484, with 1,321 injuries and 713 bodies recovered, highlighting the ongoing deadly threat faced by civilians.
In a tragic incident, 63-year-old Zainab Mohammed Musbah was found frozen to death in front of her tent in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, as a severe cold front and storm hit the area. The humanitarian collapse, including lack of shelter, heating, fuel, and access to healthcare, has made survival increasingly difficult for the displaced population.
These events reflect a systematic pattern of lethal harm inflicted on civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law. Direct targeting or endangerment of civilians through live fire or drone strikes breaches the principles of distinction and proportionality, fundamental to the laws of armed conflict.
Furthermore, the failure to ensure basic humanitarian protection, including shelter, healthcare, and warmth, places legal responsibility on the occupying power, especially when such risks are known and preventable.
No political arrangement or absence thereof legitimizes such actions. The deliberate killing and harming of civilians, or leaving them exposed to life-threatening conditions, are absolute prohibitions under international law and demand accountability.
The continuation of such violations deepens the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and underscores the urgent need for immediate civilian protection, unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, and accountability for crimes committed against the civilian population.
