The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the escalating pattern of crimes perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against civilians and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip, carried out through direct targeting and killings that occur repeatedly and systematically on a daily basis. This includes direct and repeated attacks against security and police personnel and their deployment points across the Gaza Strip while they are carrying out their duties to maintain public order in displacement sites.

PCHR emphasizes that these attacks constitute a recurring pattern of unlawful targeting and contribute to the dismantling of the civilian protection system, thereby entrenching conditions of chaos and insecurity among the civilian population. Furthermore, the widespread bombardment engages elements of the crime of genocide as defined under international law.

Among the most documented incidents by PCHR field researchers:

At approximately 02:35 on Thursday, 23 April 2026, an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of young men at a security point in the al-Maslakh area, southwest of Khan Younis. As a result, Yehia Merwan Yousif Abu Shalhoub (22) was killed, while others sustained injuries of varying severity. All casualties were transported to Nasser Medical Complex, where the injuries were assessed as moderate.

At approximately 22:50 on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, an Israeli drone strike targeted people gathered in the Beit Lahia Housing Project area in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, five individuals were killed, including three children: Anas Ihab Sa’id Abu Foul (19), Mohammed Bahaa Nabil Ba’loushah (14), ‘Alaa Nabil Hussein Ba’loushah (47), Salah al-Deen Mahmoud ‘Abdullah al-‘Abed (11), and his brother ‘Abdullah Mahmoud ‘Abdullah al-‘Abed (9). Eight others were injured, including two in critical condition. The incident coincided with artillery shelling and heavy gunfire by Israeli military vehicles in the surrounding area, spreading panic among civilians, particularly families displaced in tents.

At approximately 09:30 on the same day, an Israeli drone strike targeted civilians gathered on Old Gaza Street in Jabalia al-Balad. As a result, ‘Abdel Jalil Anwar Adeeb Jneid (21) was killed, while several others sustained injuries of varying severity.

At approximately 12:20 on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, an Israeli drone strike targeted Khamis Mohammed Khamis al-Qassas (42) near Abu Hmeid Intersection in central Khan Younis, resulting in his killing.

At approximately 00:45 on the same day, an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of young men at a security point in the northern al-Amal neighborhood, west of Khan Younis. As a result, three individuals were killed: Darwish Sa’eb Darwish al-‘Attal (29), Sa’di Helal Sa’di Abu Helal (30), and Majed ‘Alaa Waleed Abu Mousa (21), while others sustained injuries of varying severity. Medical sources later confirmed that one of the wounded died of his injuries, identified as Mohammed Mustafa Mo’men Abu Helal (20).

At approximately 02:30 on Monday, 20 April 2026, an Israeli drone strike targeted a gathering of security officers near Jouda Intersection in Block 6 of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, one officer was killed, identified as Anas Khaled Mohammed Safi (35), and another was injured.

At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 19 April 2026, Israeli forces stationed in northern Gaza opened fire at Halawah camp in Jabalia al-Balad, where tents shelter dozens of displaced persons. As a result, Khalil Khader Salem Naser (64) was killed, and another was wounded

At approximately 17:30 on the same day, an Israeli drone strike targeted a motorbike near Abu Hjeir Station, northwest of al-Bureij Camp. As a result, Ayman Khaled ‘Abdel Fattah Hasanah (38) was killed, and three passers-by were injured.

Since the ceasefire entered into force in October 2025, PCHR has documented the IOF’s systematic and daily targeting of security points and police checkpoints, as well as police and security personnel stationed there while performing their duties. These actions indicate an apparent intent to undermine the public order infrastructure and prave the way for the spread of chaos and insecurity.

This reality has enabled groups of collaborators and armed militias to raid displacement areas and commit violations, including kidnappings and attacks on property, as well as facilitating the looting of humanitarian aid, amid the absence of an effective law enforcement authority.

PCHR emphasizes that the targeting of civilian security officers while performing their duties, as well as the targeting of civilian gatherings and the use of lethal force in densely populated areas sheltering displaced people without military necessity or justification, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes. These attacks undermine the civilian population’s right to protection and directly jeopardize their right to personal security and to the orderly management of their societal affairs.

PCHR emphasizes that the IOF’s ongoing widescale killings and targeting of civilians, coupled with the continuing policies of 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 for the immediate cessation of all attacks targeting civilians and law enforcement personnel in the Gaza Strip and ensuring respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and military necessity. It further calls for the activation of accountability mechanisms for these crimes, the prosecution of those responsible, and ensuring that they do not enjoy impunity.