ICSPR Strongly Condemns the Ongoing Israeli Targeting of Families, Shelters, and Displacement Tents, and Calls for International Protection for Gaza Residents

Date: December 22, 2024

Press Release

ICSPR Strongly Condemns the Ongoing Israeli Targeting of Families, Shelters, and Displacement Tents, and Calls for International Protection for Gaza Residents

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) strongly condemns the continued Israeli occupation forces’ bombing of shelters, schools populated by civilians, and Palestinian families across the Gaza Strip. This escalation is part of ongoing crimes for the 443rd consecutive day, with the occupation committing new massacres against forcibly displaced persons.

The latest of these crimes occurred on the evening of Saturday, December 21, 2024, when Israeli warplanes bombed Musa bin Nusayr School in Al-Daraj neighborhood, Gaza City, which housed thousands of displaced persons. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of 8 citizens and the injury of dozens, most of them children. Additionally, the bombing of the Abu Samra family home in Deir Al-Balah led to the martyrdom of 11 citizens and injury of dozens. On Friday, December 20, 2024, Israeli warplanes bombed the Khilla family home in Jabalia Al-Balad, resulting in the martyrdom of 10 citizens, including 7 children and a woman. The bombing of the Matar and Kabaja family homes in Nuseirat Camp caused the martyrdom of 4 citizens and the injury of 14 others. In Khan Younis, the targeting of an apartment belonging to the Abu Arqoub family resulted in the martyrdom of 2 citizens and several injuries.

On Thursday afternoon, December 19, 2024, Israeli warplanes bombed Al-Karama School and Shaaban Al-Reis School in Al-Shaaf, east of Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, which housed thousands of displaced persons. The bombing led to the destruction of large parts of the schools and the martyrdom of 15 citizens, with dozens injured. This raises the number of targeted shelters to (247) schools.

In less than 48 hours, Israeli forces killed 154 people, including more than 20 martyrs targeted separately in northern Gaza, and 3 martyrs following the bombing of a civilian vehicle.

This brings the total number of martyrs from the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7, 2023, to (45,227), with (15,000) missing, and (107,573) injured, 70% of whom are children and women.

The violations have not been limited to Gaza; in the West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the martyrdom of 4 Palestinians and injury of 3 others following an Israeli bombing of a vehicle in Tulkarm refugee camp. Israeli forces also carried out raids and arrests across several towns, arresting multiple citizens.

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) asserts that targeting residential homes, schools, shelters, and displacement tents constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, especially regarding the principles of distinction between civilians and combatants, proportionality, and the need to take precautions to minimize incidental harm. ICSPR records and demands the following:

1. ICSPR stresses that targeting homes, shelters, schools, and displacement tents is part of a systematic policy aimed at committing genocide in Gaza. The goal is to empty northern Gaza of its population, render the area uninhabitable, and create conditions forcing mass displacement.

2. ICSPR calls on the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, UN organizations, and free people around the world to urgently form an international coalition to ensure humanitarian intervention. This intervention must compel the occupation to stop targeting civilians and shelters, provide international protection for the Palestinian people, halt the brutal Israeli aggression against Gaza, ensure the flow of humanitarian aid and medical supplies, hold perpetrators of international crimes accountable before international courts, and impose sanctions on the occupying state.