Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to carry out repeated attacks against civilians in the Gaza Strip, in defiance of international laws and conventions that prohibit the targeting of civilians and public and private property during armed conflict.
On Saturday, two Palestinians were killed in a drone strike carried out by Israeli forces in Jabalia refugee camp in the north of the Strip and in the Qizan al Najjar area south of Khan Younis.
This brings the number of those killed since the ceasefire of 11 October last year to 614, while the total number of injured has reached 1,640. A further 726 bodies have so far been recovered, in a stark indication of the continued pattern of targeted violence against civilians in the absence of effective international deterrence.
In the same context, three civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire east of Gaza City after live ammunition was fired at civilians at the end of Omar al Mukhtar Street, resulting in injuries of varying severity.
Israeli warplanes also launched an air strike on the town of Bani Suheila east of Khan Younis, while Israeli naval forces opened heavy fire off the city’s coast. Military vehicles simultaneously fired intensively towards eastern areas of the northern Gaza Strip. These developments reflect a systematic pattern of assault on civilians and densely populated neighbourhoods, further entrenching ongoing violations of international humanitarian law.
According to medical sources, the death toll from the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023 has risen to 72,072, with 171,738 injured, underscoring the scale of devastation and the persistence of the attacks.
The direct targeting of civilians, indiscriminate bombardment of residential areas, and violation of the sanctity of life and civilian property constitute clear breaches of international law, including the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, which oblige an occupying power to protect the civilian population, provide urgent medical assistance to the wounded, and ensure the safety of civilians in affected areas.
These repeated assaults entail criminal responsibility on the part of the occupying authorities and amount to violations of international human rights standards that guarantee the right to life, security and physical integrity for every individual, without discrimination or exception. They demand urgent international intervention to bring them to an end.
