The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the escalating pattern of killings perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the Gaza Strip, including the direct targeting of civilians and residential areas, as well as the continued deployment of drones and warplanes to strike individuals, vehicles, and densely populated areas, in serious violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and necessity.
Among the latest incidents documented by PCHR field researchers, at approximately 01:20 on Sunday, 29 March 2026, an Israeli drone fired two missiles, approximately 10 minutes apart, at a group of people gathered in the vicinity of Well 19 in the southwestern area of Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. As a result, eight people were killed, including two who succumbed to their injuries a few hours later. Several others sustained injuries of varying severity and were transferred to Nasser Medical Complex for treatment. Those killed were identified as Sarhan Ahmed al-Sofi (37), ‘Abdel Rahman ‘Awni al-Sayed ‘Abdel Mohsen (24), and Ashraf Mohammed Naser Irmeilat (37). Meanwhile, Ra’ed Mahmoud Soliman Abu Harb (41) and Ibrahim Jaber Soliman Sheikh al-‘Eid (23) were later pronounced dead.
At approximately 08:50, Israeli soldiers stationed in eastern Khan Younis opened fire on Moqbel Mohammed Moqbel Barbakh (15) while he was on his way to collect a food parcel from a World Food Programme (WFP) distribution point on Salah al-Deen Street. He sustained gunshot wounds to the back and upper limbs, resulting in his death.
At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 28 March 2026, an Israeli drone targeted an SUV near the Bani Suhaila intersection in eastern Khan Younis. As a result, Ahmed Fayez Salem Abu Reidah (33) was killed, while another person sustained injuries of varying severity. Local residents were able to recover his body and transfer it to Nasser Medical Complex, where it was received decapitated, having sustained shrapnel injuries throughout his body.
At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 26 March 2026, the body of Sa‘id Jawad Hafez Barbakh (47) arrived at Nasser Medical Complex. Sa‘id had been shot with two bullets by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, while he was on al-‘Abbarah Street, north of Bani Suhaila, outside the areas classified as “yellow,” resulting in his death. His body remained at the site until the evening of the following day, when it was eventually transferred to the hospital. According to the victim’s brother, who spoke to a PCHR field researcher, Sa‘id had a mental disorder and had gone missing on the day of the incident. He was later identified in the morgue after the family was informed of the presence of an unidentified body.
At approximately 17:10 on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, an Israeli warplane fired two missiles at agricultural land in the vicinity of the al-Sit Amira displacement camp on al-Barakah Street in Deir al-Balah. As a result, ‘Abdel Rahman Mohammed Mardi Qanbour (22) was killed, while several others sustained injuries of varying severity. The strike also caused damage to nearby tents sheltering displaced people, forcibly displacing many families amid the harsh weather conditions affecting the area that day.
At approximately 23:45 on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, an Israeli drone targeted a group of people gathered in the vicinity of al-Sawarhah Cemetery in the southwestern area of al-Nuseirat refugee camp. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed Sa‘id Darwish (38) and Na’el ‘Ahed Mustafa al-Nabaheen (21) were killed, and another person was critically injured.
At approximately 16:30 on Sunday, 22 March 2026, an Israeli drone targeted a white civilian police car (Nissan) carrying several Palestinian police officers as it was traveling along ‘Omar Bin al-Khattab Street near Abu Srar Intersection in al-Nuseirat refugee camp. As a result, three officers were killed, identified as Ahmed Talal Ahmed Hamdan (37), Osamah Ra’ed Ahmed Tabashah (21), and ‘Ali Deeb Abu Rab‘ie (48), while two other officers and 8 people who were passing by were injured. The attack occurred in a densely populated area, coinciding with the third day of Eid al-Fitr.
At approximately 13:30 on Sunday, 22 March 2026, an Israeli drone targeted a group of people gathered near the old Sharia Court headquarters, close to al-Sheikh Redwan Bridge in Gaza City. As a result, Yousif Ahmed Mahmoud Lafi (51) was killed, and several others sustained injuries of varying severity.
These incidents reflect a recurring pattern of the unlawful use of lethal force against civilians, without justification or necessity. This includes the targeting of civilian compounds, vehicles, and individuals seeking humanitarian aid, as well as the targeting of civilian police officers in densely populated areas.
According to follow-up by our field researchers, since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October 2025, the IOF have continued air and artillery bombardments, gunfire, and recurrent demolitions within areas located along the so-called “yellow line,” aimed at destroying the remaining houses and buildings. According to the Ministry of Health, these attacks have so far killed 702 people and have wounded 1913 others. This brings the cumulative casualties since the onset of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023, to 72,278 deaths and172,013 injuries.
PCHR emphasizes that the IOF’s ongoing widescale killings and targeting of civilians, coupled with the continuing policies of closure, siege, and starvation, constitute a complementary pattern of acts that amount to crimes of genocide under international law, in particular the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
PCHR calls on the international community to take immediate measures to halt the ongoing crimes in the Gaza Strip; ensure the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid; guarantee the reopening of crossings, particularly the Rafah Border Crossing; provide urgent protection for the civilian population; and hold Israeli leaders accountable for the crimes they have committed before international justice mechanisms.
