In yet another incident underscoring the ongoing targeting of civilians, particularly displaced persons, a Palestinian woman was killed and several others were injured in the early hours of Friday, following gunfire by Israeli occupation forces in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
The attack resulted in the death of Sabah Ahmed Ali Abu Jamea (62), who was fatally shot by Israeli occupation forces. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries after heavy gunfire was directed towards areas densely populated with displaced civilians in central and western parts of the city—areas devoid of any military presence.
The targeting of civilians, especially displaced persons forced from their homes due to military operations, constitutes a grave breach of the principles of distinction and proportionality outlined in the Geneva Conventions, which strictly prohibit attacks against civilian populations or exposing them to the dangers of military operations.
In a related development, Israeli occupation forces also carried out airstrikes and demolished buildings in areas east of Gaza City, further exacerbating destruction in an already devastated civilian environment and compounding the suffering of residents facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions amid near-total collapse of essential services.
Available data indicates that since mid-October, Israeli occupation forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians and injured thousands in a consistent pattern of lethal force against civilians, without accountability. These actions amount to serious violations that may constitute war crimes under international law.
These incidents occur against the backdrop of an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe affecting approximately 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza, where acute shortages of food, water, healthcare, and shelter persist due to strict restrictions on humanitarian aid, exacerbating the humanitarian impact of military operations and exposing civilians to compounding risks threatening their lives and dignity.
International law stresses that the protection of civilians is an unconditional obligation, unaffected by the existence of armed conflict or the nature of political or military agreements. Any killing beyond the bounds of military necessity constitutes a grave violation that warrants international legal accountability.
