The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) ongoing commission of killings and bombing in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the continued closure of Gaza’s crossings and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. This comes amid the IOF’s escalating threats to resume their widescale military aggression on the Strip, indicating Israel’s insistence on continuing its genocide against the Palestinians.
This escalation comes after Israel unilaterally declared its unliteral renunciation of the ceasefire agreement and refused to begin negotiations for the second phase, which could lead to the gradual collapse of the agreement. Additionally, Israel continues its threats to implement what it calls the “Hell Plan,” which includes relocating residents from northern Gaza to the south again, cutting electricity, and fully resuming its genocidal war1.
The latest killing crimes occurred at approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 08 March 2025, when the IOF stationed along the Palestinian-Egyptian borders in southern Rafah opened fire at Palestinians’ houses in al-Salam neighborhood, south of Rafah. As a result, ‘Abed al-Men’im ‘Ali Hamdan Qishta (53) was killed inside his house, which is about 600 meters away from the borders.
At around 07:00 on the same day, an Israeli drone launched an airstrike on a group of residents in al-Shawka village, east of Rafah. As a result, Mahmoud Hussain Farhan al-Hessi (37) and Mahdi ‘Abdullah Nadi Jarghoun (39) were killed.
The IOF’s repeated killings and airstrikes in Rafah come amid an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, as the city has been systematically devastated over the past few months. This destruction has made it difficult for residents to return to their homes, even during the fragile ceasefire. Furthermore, the IOF’s continued deployment up to about one kilometer deep inside Gaza’s southern and eastern borders, coupled with gunfire, which reaches deep into the city center, targeting anyone attempting to check on their homes, thereby rendering the return of residents to their homes nearly impossible. This disastrous scene reflects Israel’s policy of ethnic cleansing and forced displacement, with the absence of any effective international action to stop this crime against Rafah residents and their right to live safely in their city.
On the morning of 08 March 2025, five Palestinians sustained injuries after an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped a bomb on a garage used by vehicles working on reopening streets in Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. In the afternoon, a boy and a girl were injured after the IOF opened fire in ‘Abasan al-Kabira village, east of Khan Younis.
At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 07 March 2025, an Israeli drone fired a missile at two Palestinians on al-Mansoura Street in eastern al-Shuja’iyia neighborhood, east of Gaza City, killing both. The killed were identified as: ‘Alaa ‘Emad Isleem and Mohammed Subhi Isleem.
In the afternoon of Thursday, 06 March 2025, an Israeli drone launched an airstrike on a group of people in eastern al-Shuja’iyia neighborhood, killing two and injuring another. The killed were identified as: Mohammed al-‘Ar’eer and his nephew Nabil al-‘Ar’eer. In another incident that occurred about an hour later, Haitham ‘Abed al-Kareem Abu Shanab, from al-Shuja’iyia neighborhood, was killed in an Israeli drone strike while searching for his clothes under the rubble of his house.
At around 15:00 on Tuesday, 04 March 2025, an Israeli drone opened fire at a group of people on al-Masryeen Street in eastern Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Ahmed ‘Eid ‘Abed al-‘Aziz al-Masri (19) was killed after sustaining a bullet injury in his chest.
Simultaneously, Israeli tanks stationed near al-Forta area in eastern Beit Hanoun opened fire at several makeshift tents set up by Palestinians near their destroyed houses. As a result, Haneen ‘Ali Salama al-Kafarna (23) was killed after being shot with a live bullet in her chest. Additionally, three people, including two children, were injured with live bullets.
Since the ceasefire, PCHR’s field researchers have documented many airstrikes and tens of shooting incidents by the IOF, who are still stationed inside the Strip, whether on the Palestinian-Egyptian borders in southern Rafah or along the Gaza Strip’s eastern borders.
The IOF has continued to close Gaza’s crossings and block the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip since 02 March 2025, coinciding with the end of the first phase of the ceasefire. This decision has worsened the already catastrophic humanitarian situation endured by 2.3 million people in Gaza. Despite the ceasefire, the conditions of the people in Gaza have not improved due to the repercussions of the genocide amid Israel’s destruction of more than 70% of buildings in Gaza, and the lack of humanitarian services in temporary shelters.
PCHR condemns the killing of civilians and calls upon the international community to scale up efforts to ensure a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza strip, including protecting civilians and alleviating the devastating impact of the genocide committed against them.
PCHR reminds that Israel’s decision to close Gaza’s crossings and block the entry of aid constitute a blatant and clear violation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s ruling issued on March 28, 2024, which unanimously ordered the implementation of all necessary and effective measures to ensure the entry of essential food supplies to Gaza’s population without delay.
PCHR demands enforcing the ICJ’s rulings, obligating Israel to lift the siege, reverse the crossings closure decision, and ensure the uninterrupted entry of humanitarian aid, essential devices, equipment and goods to meet the needs of over 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have suffered from starvation and a lack of basic services for months and are now in desperate need for urgent and adequate shelter.
PCHR also urges the international community to adhere to the provisions of international criminal law and principles of global justice and take decisive action to hold Israel, its leaders and those responsible for committing grave international crimes against the Palestinian people accountable and to bring them to justice before international and national courts. PCHR warns that Inaction in this regard encourages impunity and undermines the rule of law worldwide.
