The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to expand patterns of killing and direct attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by turning the so-called “Yellow Zone” and military lifters equipped with machine guns into permanent instruments for firing on civilians. These practices form part of a systematic policy that imposes a de facto reality based on killings, injuries, and persistent fear.
Field researchers at the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) have documented an alarming escalation in the IOF’s use of military lifters equipped with machine guns, deployed at 23 different locations within the so-called “Yellow Zone” in the eastern Gaza Strip. These lifters provide extensive surveillance and firing capabilities, enabling IOF to monitor and open fire across large parts of residential and civilian areas extending as far as the coastline. These measures coincide with the persistent presence of drones overhead and repeated reports of live fire targeting various areas across the Gaza Strip. Together, these practices reflect a recurring pattern of the unlawful use of lethal force against civilians.
These developments, coupled with the earlier extensive bombardment and widespread destruction of homes and civilian objects by the IOF, particularly following repeated evacuation orders in areas of central Gaza Strip, indicate an escalation of a systematic policy aimed at depriving the civilian population of the conditions necessary for survival. This policy has created coercive circumstances that compel civilians to undergo repeated displacement and abandon their areas of residence. Such practices underscore concerns that these measures form part of a broader process of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing aimed at depopulating vast areas of their indigenous Palestinian population.
In a recent incident, at approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 14 June 2026, IOF opened fire at three Palestinians, including a child, while they were present west of the so-called “yellow cubes” installed by IOF east of Wadi al-Salqa Bridge, southeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, despite the area being approximately 1,700 meters from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
According to information obtained by PCHR’s field researcher, Bahaa’ Jaber Mohammed Abu al-‘Ajeen (35), his child Rayan (3), and Khaled Abu Gharaba (50) were walking approximately 60 meters west of the cubes when they were called by Israeli soldiers stationed inside a house belonging to the Abu Sbeitan family, whose residents had been forcibly displaced. Khaled Abu Gharaba complied with the military orders, raised his hands, and sat on the ground, while Bahaa’ Abu al-‘Ajeen attempted to flee while carrying his child. The soldiers then opened fire, injuring both, before detaining the three Palestinians and taking them to an unknown destination.
At around midnight on Monday, 15 June 2026, IOF released Bahaa Abu al-‘Ajeen and his child near the Kissufim site, east of Deir al-Balah. It was later confirmed that Abu al-‘Ajeen had sustained a bullet wound resulting in a severe laceration to his right leg, while his child succumbed to a bullet wound to the head, resulting in severe laceration. The child’s body was handed over in a grey body bag. As of the time of writing this press release, the fate of Khaled Abu Gharaba remains unknown, amid serious concerns that he may have been subjected to enforced disappearance.
In Gaza City, PCHR’s field researcher documented the killing of two Palestinians by gunfire in areas widely exposed to Israeli military lifters. At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 14 June, medical sources at the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) field hospital announced the death of Mohammed Ramzi Mohammed Najib Abu Hassira (19), who succumbed to injuries sustained the previous evening while he was near the al-Qattan Center on al-Wehda Street in Gaza City. He had been critically wounded by a bullet, and several other individuals were also injured in the same incident.
At the same time, Khalil Jameel Khalil al-Masri (43) was struck by a bullet fired from an unidentified source in the head while he was sitting with his friends at a café on al-Thawra Street in Gaza City. He was transferred to al-Shifa Medical Complex, where he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning after succumbing to his injuries. The fire was reportedly directed from areas where IOF are stationed, including military positions and military lifters in eastern Gaza City.
According to information obtained by PCHR’s field researchers, the IOF deploy watchtowers and military lifters equipped with monitoring devices, cameras, and machine guns, some of which are operated remotely, in various elevated locations. These installations are used to strengthen field control and monitor civilian movement across extensive distances. reports of shooting incidents have been documented coming from these positions toward civilian areas, agricultural lands, and locations where civilian movement is observed. These incidents have resulted in killings and injuries among civilians, in addition to restricting their movement.
At approximately 15:50 on Sunday, 14 June 2026, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a shop belonging to the Abu Sweilem family next to the Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip. The strike resulted in the killing of four Palestinians identified as Hani ‘Abdel Hamid Mohammed Abu Sweilem (60), Shadi Hasan Yousef Abu Salem (41), Shadi Khamees ‘Ali al-Zein (40), and Mohammed Mo’in ‘Abdullah Sweilem (22). The attack also resulted in the injury of five other individuals, whose wounds were described as moderate to serious.
IOF stationed east of Khan Younis opened fire at approximately 06:00 on the same day at a group of young men near Bani Suheila roundabout, east of the city, killing of Zaki Mohammed Ahmed al-Qarra (30) and injuring another. According to a statement provided by his brother to PCHR’s field researcher, Zaki attempted to assist one of the injured individuals following the initial shooting; however, Israeli soldiers directly opened fire on him, striking him with a bullet to the head and killing him.
At approximately 00:20 on Sunday, Israeli forces opened fire from their positions in the so-called “yellow zone” east of Khan Younis, injuring Amir ‘Emad Suleiman al-Bashiti (13) by a bullet to the shoulder while he was in his tent in Batn al-Sameen area, south of Khan Younis. The child was transferred to Nasser Medical Complex, where his condition was described as critical before he was pronounced dead approximately 15 minutes after his arrival.
According to information collected by PCHR’s field researchers, the eastern areas of Khan Younis have been subjected to relentless destruction operations since early June, targeting remaining houses and civilian objects, alongside the expansion of the so-called “yellow zones” in southern Khan Younis and northwestern Al-Mawasi, Rafah. These areas include “Happy City,” the western road leading to Rafah, al-Tinah Street, the Lemon land, and al-Shakoush area.
This expansion has resulted in further severe restrictions on the movement of the population, as vehicle movement between Khan Younis, the central Gaza Strip, and Gaza City has become largely dependent on Al-Satar Al-Gharbi Street and Al-Rasheed Coastal Road, following the effective closure of Salah Al-Deen Street, the main artery in Khan Younis, which has come under IOF’s control and is subject to continuous movement of Israeli military vehicles. IOF reportedly open fire on anyone approaching these areas and target them through drones, resulting in daily killings and injuries, including among individuals collecting firewood or attempting to access their homes located only a few meters from them or from the so-called yellow markings installed by the IOF.
PCHR emphasizes that the IOF’s deployment of armed military lifters across 23 locations in the eastern Gaza Strip, and their use to open fire deep into civilian areas, in addition to the expansion of the so-called “Yellow Zone” and the targeting of civilians in tents, homes, and public spaces, further demonstrate reliance on policies and practices that violate the fundamental principles of distinction and necessity. PCHR further emphasizes that these practices continue to subject the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to killings, forced displacement, and intimidation, as part of a systematic pattern of genocide.
PCHR reiterates its call on the international community to take urgent and effective measures to stop the ongoing crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip, to end policies of forced displacement and the widescale destruction of civilian objects, to ensure international protection for civilians in the Gaza Strip, to hold those responsible for the committed crimes accountable, and ensure an end to impunity.
