19 July 2026
Press Release
Al-Dameer: Escalating Crimes Targeting Civilians in the Gaza Strip Expose the International Community’s Failure to Enforce the Ceasefire and Require Urgent Action to Halt Them
Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights – Gaza states that Israeli occupation crimes continue to escalate day after day as part of the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip that has been perpetrated since 7 October, despite the announcement of a ceasefire agreement. This reality reflects the failure of the mediators to ensure the implementation of the agreement or compel the occupying authorities to comply with their obligations.
During the period from 11 to 17 July 2026, Al-Dameer documented a significant escalation in aerial bombardments and direct gunfire attacks, resulting in the killing and injury of dozens of civilians, including children and women, in addition to attacks targeting civilian objects, civil police stations, shelters for displaced persons, workshops, and civilian vehicles. This ongoing pattern reflects a systematic policy of targeting the civilian population.
On 11 July 2026, Israeli aircraft targeted a group of civilians while they were collecting firewood in the Al-Satr Al-Gharbi area, northeast of Khan Younis, near the so-called Yellow Zone, killing Amr Hani Salama and Mohammad Majed Mohammad Abu Sunayda. On the same day, Israeli occupation forces targeted a civilian vehicle west of Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, killing its driver, Hassan Mustafa Zuhair Al-Razayna, after pursuing him and targeting him again as he attempted to flee.
On 12 July 2026, an Israeli drone struck a workshop designated for drilling water wells in the Al-Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City, killing Akram Ramzi Ahmed Tafesh, Mohammad Ali Mahmoud Badwan, Bilal Jawad Sabri Basal, and Ahmed Abdul Karim Ragheb Mahani. Subsequently, Israeli warplanes struck the same site again after issuing an evacuation warning, causing extensive damage and injuring a number of civilians.
On 14 July 2026, Israeli occupation forces targeted a tent sheltering displaced persons inside Al-Qadisiyah Camp in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, killing Bassem Masaad Irmeilat. On the same day, the child Moataz Abu Shaar succumbed to gunshot wounds inflicted by Israeli occupation forces stationed in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah. Hussam Mohammad Ramadan Al-Shafie was also killed when his tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, was targeted. At approximately 1:18 p.m. on the same day, Israeli warplanes bombed the Al-Faluja Police Station, killing several police personnel, including a woman. The victims were Mohammad Marwan Salem, Mufid Mohammad Halawa, Ghassan Akram Al-Daqs, Ibrahim Faisal Mousa, Samih Ramadan Al-Aswad, Abdul Malik Abdul Nasser Abu Al-Jibeen, and Suzan Youssef Abu Hindi, a member of the Women’s Police. Ali Hassan Odeh Shamlakh and Nasser Al-Louh were also killed after their tent was targeted in the Tal Al-Hawa area, west of Gaza City.
On 15 July 2026, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Israeli occupation forces bombed the Abu Qasim family home west of Deir Al-Balah, killing Omar Sami Ahmed Abu Qasim, his wife Asmaa Ghazi Abu Qasim, and their daughter Habiba Omar Sami Abu Qasim.
On 16 July 2026, Israeli warplanes targeted a group of civilians near Al-Sanafour Junction in the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, killing Mohammad Ahed Al-Rifi and Suhail Salah Ahdaibi. Israeli occupation forces also targeted Ibrahim Radwan Khattab near Dawla Junction in the Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. On the same day, Israeli forces targeted a tent sheltering displaced persons west of Gaza City near Adam Hotel, killing Nihad Riyad Arouq. In Khan Younis Governorate, Israeli warplanes struck a civilian vehicle in Al-Mawasi, on Al-Tina Street, killing Anas Mahmoud Ahmed Nimr Hamdan and injuring five civilians.
On 17 July 2026, Al-Dameer documented the killing of Mohammad Tayseer Obeid following an Israeli attack on a residential apartment in Al-Taj Building on Al-Yarmouk Street, west of Gaza City. A quadcopter drone dropped a bomb on Abu Tammam School in Beit Lahia, killing Anam Abdullah Al-Attar. In the Central Governorate, Suleiman Ibrahim Farajallah was killed after Israeli occupation forces targeted a group of civilians in the New Camp west of Al-Nuseirat refugee camp. In Khan Younis, Amani Ibrahim Abu Jazar was shot and killed by Israeli occupation forces while she was near the Al-Kanis area west of the city. On the same day, Israeli occupation forces targeted the roof of Al-Tawhid Mosque west of Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, killing Taher Mohammad Abdul Wahed. This was followed by a new massacre targeting mourners during his funeral, as Israeli warplanes bombed the funeral procession, killing Bilal Tahtah, Jamil Abu Dalal, Homam Abu Brik, Saleh Al-Qatrawi, Obaida Ali Saydam, Mohammad Hamdouna, and Nidal Maher Ahmed, in addition to injuring dozens of civilians.
This recurring pattern of targeting civilians, including children, women, journalists, and civilian objects, including homes, tents, workshops, and civilian vehicles, constitutes a grave breach of the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949, Additional Protocol I, and the principles of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity. These acts amount to war crimes and constitute acts of the crime of genocide, giving rise to international criminal responsibility.
Al-Dameer affirms that the continuation of these crimes in the absence of any effective international measures reflects the failure of the international community and the mediators to provide even the minimum level of protection for the civilian population. It also undermines efforts aimed at ending the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, Al-Dameer calls upon the international community, the United Nations, the guarantor states, and the mediators to take urgent action to halt the crimes committed against civilians in the Gaza Strip, initiate independent international investigations into all attacks resulting in civilian casualties, ensure that those responsible are held accountable, provide international protection for the civilian population, and bring an end to the policy of impunity.