The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue their military aggression on the Gaza Strip, accelerating attacks on houses and shelters by destroying them over its residents and inflicting mass killings. According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)’s field documentation, the airstrikes launched over the past two days illustrate that IOF intended to target entire families and kill all their members, in perpetuation of the crime of genocide.
The Following are the most prominent crimes documented by PCHR’s field researchers in the last few hours:
At approximately 01:20 on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, IOF’s warplanes targeted al-Farabi School, which is used as a shelter for internally displaced people (IDPs), on al-Yarmouk Street, north of Gaza City, killing 7 IDPs.
At around 02:40 on the same day, IOF’s warplanes launched an airstrike on Yaseen family house in Block (1) in al-Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. As a result, Ahmed Foad Hasan Yaseen (34), his wife Alaa’ Khaled Yousef Yaseen “Abu Shikyan” (34), and their 4-month-old infant Omar were killed.
At approximately 03:05 on the same day, IOF’s warplanes targeted al-Khatib family house in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. As a result, Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed al-Khatib (35) and his wife Heba Mahmoud ‘Abed al-Hameed “Abu Ghali” (31) were killed, while their two children were critically injured.
At around 03:15 on the same day, IOF’s warplanes launched an airstrike on Jebreel family house in al-Buriej refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. As a result, the house was destroyed, and two of the neighbors namely Sa’dou Mohammed Najeeb Anees al-Shishniyia (42) and his wife Zahia ‘Ali Mahmoud al-Shishniyia “Abu ‘Ayyash” (39) were killed. Additionally, others sustained various injuries.
At approximately 23:35 on Tuesday, 14 January 2024, IOF’s warplanes targeted Shaheen family house on al-Berka Street in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. The targeted house, which sheltered Shaqqourah and Salha families, killed 11 people, including 4 children and 3 women, and injured others, while many are still missing under the rubble. Among the house residents was our colleague Ra’fat Suliman ‘Othman Salha (51), Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights Office in Gaza City and North Gaza, along with his family and in-laws. Mr. Ra’fat sustained injuries and his leg was amputated, while his wife Faten Ramadan ‘Eid Shaqqoura (48) was killed alongside their four children: Hala (23), Mohammed (20), Ahmed (19), and Seba (16). Additionally, Ra’fat’s father-in-law, Ramadan ‘Eid Taha Shaqqoura (74), his daughter Najat (45), his grandchildren Ramadan (16) and Sarah (15) Mohammed Ramadan Shaqqourah, Mohammed ‘Eid Ramadan Shaqqoura (7), Maher ‘Eid Taha Shaqqoura (62), and his wife Sameera Ahmed Shafout were killed in the incident.
At the same time, IOF’s warplanes bombed Nassar family house in Block (2) in al-Nusirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. As a result, 7 of the family members, including two children and two women, were killed, and others were injured.
At approximately 13:00 on the same day, Israeli gunboats stationed off Deir Balah shore opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat manned by two fishermen. As a result, one of the fishermen, Waleed Bahjat Mohammed al-Sultan (22) was killed, while the other sustained moderate injuries.
At around 12:45 on the same day, an Israeli drone launched an airstrike on a group of people near al-Zawaida Municipality, central Gaza Strip. As a result, 4 people, including a woman and a child, were killed, while others were injured.
At approximately 01:35 on the same day, IOF’s warplanes targeted al-Zera’iy family house in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, scattering rubble onto a nearby tinplate-roofed house and killing three of its residents. Those killed were identified as Safaa Waleed Isma’il Jouda “al-Jourani” (35), and her two children Misk Ahmed Khalil Jouda (4) and Mohammed Ahmed Khalil Jouda (4 months). Additionally, four others sustained various injuries.
Five minutes later, IOF’s warplanes launched an airstrike on Mismeh family house that sheltered IDPs in al-Manara neighborhood, south of Khan Yunis. As a result, nine IDPs were killed; most of them were from ‘Abed family, including 3 women and 2 children. Among those killed were a father and four of his sons along with the wife of one of them and their child in addition to his son-in-law and his child. Additionally, two women and a child sustained moderate injuries.
Up to the writing of this press release, IOF continue their military attacks across the Gaza Strip by committing mass killings, demolishing civilian objects, and wiping out entire residential squares. IOF also continue to block food and medicines supplies into the Gaza Strip, in a clear demonstration of IOF’s intent to sustain a policy of starvation as a weapon of war.
Expressing its full solidarity with dearest colleague Salha and all the victims’ families, PCHR indicates that the IOF’s targeting of the house sheltering Salha and his family is a vivid example of Israel’s genocidal acts that have inflicted mass killings against civilians and exterminated hundreds of families in the Gaza Strip, including areas announced by Israel, the occupying power, as “safe zones” so hundreds of thousands were forced to seek refuge in these areas. IOF’s attacks have spared none, including human rights defenders and their families, who, like other people, have become victims of Israel’s ongoing military aggression through targeting, destruction, and forced displacement, as part of the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
PCHR condemns IOF’s ongoing crimes and affirms that the impunity granted to Israel, alongside the military and political support from Israel’s Western allies, emboldens Israel to persist in its genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people.
PCHR reiterates its call for urgent and effective international action to compel Israel to cease its genocide, impose an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and comply with the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has ordered provisional measures to halt and prevent the ongoing genocide.