Despite the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to carry out airstrikes, open fire, and target Palestinian civilians, resulting so far in the killing of 38 people and the injury of 143 others. The latest of these crimes occurred on Friday evening, when the IOF targeted a Palestinian family in al-Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, killing 11 of its members, most of whom were children and women.

According to information collected by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) staff, at around 15:00 on Friday, 17 October 2025, Israeli warplanes targeted a “Peugeot Tender” vehicle carrying members of Sha’ban family as it was passing on Salah al-Deen Street in al-Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. The strike directly hit the vehicle, injuring all those inside. Ambulance and Civil Defense crews attempted to reach the incident scene, but their access was obstructed.

On Saturday morning, 18 October 2025, Civil Defense crews, in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), managed to retrieve the bodies of nine people, including four children and two women, while the bodies of two other children remain missing as their remains were scattered due to the intensity of the bombing. It is worth noting that Civil Defense crews were unable to recover the remaining bodies from the scene due to the extremely dangerous field conditions and the severe destruction in the area. Those killed were identified as: Sufian Sha’ban; his wife, Samar Mohammed Nasser Sha’ban; and their children Karam (10), Anas (8), and Nesma (12); as well as Ihab Mohammed Nasser Abu Sha’ban (38); his wife, Randa Majed Mohammed Sha’ban (36); and their children Nasser (13), Jumana (10), Ibrahim (6), and Mohammed (5).

According to information available to PCHR’s staff, the family was moving from the southern Gaza Strip to Gaza City in a vehicle with an open rear roof, clearly indicating its civilian nature. Despite this, the IOF targeted them.

This crime is not an isolated incident but rather part of a recurring Israeli pattern of airstrikes, drone fire, and intermittent artillery shelling targeting Palestinian civilians without any military necessity. This pattern has continued since the ceasefire agreement came into force on 10 October 2025, following over two years of Israeli military aggression which killed and injured over 10% of the population of the Gaza Strip.

It is worth noting that the IOF remain deployed in approximately 50% of the Gaza Strip, preventing Palestinians from accessing these areas and targeting them if they approach, even though they pose no threat to soldiers’ lives. These civilians are simply trying to return to their homes and lands, which were destroyed by the IOF.

According to our researchers’ documentation, since the ceasefire came into effect, displaced people have been returning to their areas in eastern Gaza Strip to check on their houses and their surroundings. During this period, the IOF, still stationed in these eastern areas, have targeted them with gunfire, artillery shells, and drones, resulting so far in 38 deaths and 143 injuries.

Among the incidents documented by our researchers, on 16 October 2025, the IOF killed two brothers, Baraa’ (18) and Suliman (20) Ahmed Suliman Mahfouz, in a drone strike in ‘Abasan area, east of Khan Yunis.

On 15 October 2025, the IOF killed Mohammed Sami ‘Abed al-Hai Quwaider (31) in a similar attack in Ma’an area in Khan Yunis.

On 14 October 2025, the IOF killed Baker Ahmed ‘Odah Abu Mor (25) and injured another in a drone strike targeting them in al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis.

Additionally, the IOF killed Majd ‘Abed al-Hadi Mohammed Shaheen (24) and Mohammed Hashim Ramadan al-Nijely (35) in a strike targeting them in eastern al-Qararah area, north of Khan Yunis. Their bodies recovered on 11 October 2025.

PCHR emphasizes that all acts committed by IOF are part of a systematic policy targeting civilians, aimed at making life in Gaza impossible. This comes as part Israel’s ongoing policy of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza over the past two years, seeking to erase and annihilate their existence.

PCHR calls on the international community, the United Nations, and the Security Council to uphold their responsibilities and take immediate action, including providing urgent protection for civilians, ending the IOF’s military presence in the Gaza Strip, halting the use of tactics and weapons that target civilian neighborhoods, and compelling Israel to cease its attacks and siege of the Strip.