Over the past several days, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued their airstrikes, artillery shelling, and gunfire, carrying out further killings in a constant pattern of direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects. This coincides with an expansion of their deployment across the Gaza Strip through the introduction of the so-called “orange line,”1 which covers up to 11 percent of the total area of the Gaza Strip, bringing the overall area designated as access-restricted or prohibited to 64 percent of the territory.
The establishment of the so-called “orange line” indicates a serious escalation in the policy of progressively reducing the geographical space available to the civilian population. This line extends beyond areas previously designated by the “yellow line,” introducing a new layer of restrictions on movement and access. These developments demonstrate a further deepening of forced overcrowding, confining the population to an area that does not exceed 36 percent of the Gaza Strip’s territory, amid the absence of essential services and the continued deterioration of health and environmental conditions. Consequently, concerns over the spread of disease are heightened, further undermining the conditions necessary for the maintenance of human life.
Among the most notable incidents documented by PCHR’s field researchers are the following:
At approximately 12:10 on Monday, 4 May 2026, an Israeli drone fired a missile at Anas Mohammad Ibrahim Hamad (33) while he was walking in Al-Muntazah area, Block 9, in Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, he sustained severe injuries. He was transferred to Al-Awda Hospital in Al-Nuseirat camp, and due to the severity of his condition, he was later referred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival at approximately 12:50 on the same day.
At approximately 07:15 on the same day, IOF stationed in the vicinity of al-‘Atatra area in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Musa Salem Fathi Al-Abyad (43) while he was in the vicinity of the former American School area in the same location. He sustained critical injuries and was killed instantly.
At approximately 05:30 on Sunday, 3 May 2026, an Israeli drone targeted a group of young men traveling on an animal-drawn cart in the Kizan Abu Rashwan area, south of Khan Younis. The attack resulted in the killing of Riyadh Naji ‘Abdullah Abu Namar (15) and the injury of others with varying wounds. According to information obtained by PCHR’s field researcher from the victim’s father, his son had gone with others on a cart to assist in rescuing an injured person in the vicinity of Al-Happy City Hall on the western Rafah Road, south of Khan Younis. During that time, they were targeted by an Israeli drone, killing Riyadh after sustaining shrapnel injuries throughout his body.
At approximately 09:45 on the same day, IOF opened fire at Ahmed Ramadan Mahmoud Al-Harash (45) while he was near his destroyed house on al-Hawja Street in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip. He sustained serious injuries and was later pronounced dead approximately one hour after the attack, succumbing to his wounds.
At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 2 May 2026, IOF opened fire at ‘Ammar Talal Ahmed Abu Shab (46) killing him after he was struck by a bullet in his right thigh. According to his family’s testimony, he was collecting firewood at the time of the incident from al-‘Abbara Street area on Salah al-Deen Road, north of Khan Younis.
At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 30 April 2026, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a cart pulled by an animal near the Kuwait Roundabout in al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City. The attack resulted in the killing of Ahmed Breik Mubarak Al-Mallahi(60), his daughter E’atimad Ahmed Breik Al-Mallahi (33) and Rani Salim Suleiman Al-Radwan (38). Six others sustained injuries of varying degrees, with one sustaining critical injuries.
PCHR emphasizes that the IOF’s ongoing widescale killings and targeting of civilians, coupled with the continuing policies of siege, movement restriction 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 and comprehensive cessation of all attacks against civilians and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip, and for an end to all restrictions on the movement of the civilian population. It further calls for the abolition of restricted areas, including the so-called “orange” and “yellow” lines, and for the guarantee of safe access and freedom of movement. PCHR also urges the unrestricted flow of humanitarian and relief aid in a manner that adequately meets the basic needs of the population.
PCHR further demands full compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and necessity, and calls for the activation of accountability mechanisms to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable, and that impunity is brought to an end.
