The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the ongoing targeting of civilians and civilian objects by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), including civilian vehicles and medical personnel, as part of an escalating pattern of lethal force that violates international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and necessity.
According to documentation by PCHR field researchers, at approximately 08:45 on Monday, 6 April 2026, IOF stationed at a military site about 300 meters east of Salah al-Deen Street in Khan Younis opened fire on a civilian vehicle belonging to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the al-Satar al-Sharqi area, northeast of the city. As a result, Majdi Mustafa Ibrahim Aslan (52), who was driving the vehicle, was killed. The vehicle was carrying two other employees from the medical team, one of whom sustained bruises. At the same time, IOF opened fire on a bus carrying workers from a commercial company traveling along the same street. As a result, three workers were injured and were transferred to Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
Information obtained by PCHR field researchers indicates that a medical team travels daily to Al-Amal Hospital, operated by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), to review the files of patients selected for travel via the Rafah Crossing. On the same day, the team headed to the hospital in a rented vehicle driven by Aslan. Upon reaching the vicinity of al-‘Abbarah Street along Salah al-Deen Street, IOF directly opened fire on the vehicle, resulting in casualties.
One of the injured bus passengers told a PCHR field researcher that the shooting directly and unexpectedly targeted them while they were traveling along the road, despite the absence of any apparent threat. He added that he had been using this road daily as part of their humanitarian work, noting that they were on their way to distribute clothing to organizations dedicated to the care of displaced orphans.
Following the attack, WHO declared suspension of medical the suspension of medical evacuations of patients from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah Crossing until further notice.1
As part of the recurring pattern of killings, at approximately 12:30 on the same day, an Israeli drone targeted a bike with a missile in the vicinity of Sheikh Redwan Bridge in Gaza City, killing Mohammed Samir Dawoud (38) and injuring four others, including two children. Two of the injured sustained serious wounds. A civilian vehicle passing through the area at the time of the strike was also damaged.
At approximately 20:20 on Sunday, 5 April 2026, an Israeli drone targeted a group of people gathered in the vicinity of al-Yarmouk Stadium on al-Wehdah Street in Gaza City. As a result, ‘Abdel Rahman ‘Amer Hasan al-Khodari (34) was killed, while others sustained injuries of varying severity.
These incidents reflect a recurring pattern of attacks against civilians on public roads, including medical personnel and civilian vehicles, without any apparent military justification. The circumstances indicate a lack of adequate verification of the nature of the targets prior to shooting. These actions raise serious concerns about the commission of grave violations amounting to war crimes.
PCHR emphasizes that the targeting of medical personnel and health service professionals constitutes a blatant violation of the special protections afforded to them under the Geneva Conventions. Also, the targeting of civilian vehicles on public roads without warning or urgent military necessity constitutes a serious violation of the rules of international humanitarian law.
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 724 people and have wounded 1994 others. This brings the cumulative casualties since the onset of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023, to 72,303 deaths and 172,094 injuries.
PCHR emphasizes that the IOF’s ongoing widescale killings and targeting of civilians, coupled with the continuing policies of closure, siege, and starvation, form 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 urgent action to halt these violations, to exert pressure to ensure the protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip, to activate accountability mechanisms for the commission of these crimes, to hold those responsible accountable, and end impunity.
