ICSPR: Killings, starvation, and systematic destruction escalate in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem amid international distraction and paralysis

Date: 11 March 2025

Press Release

ICSPR: Killings, starvation, and systematic destruction escalate in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem amid international distraction and paralysis

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) is following with deep concern the continued grave crimes and violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem. This comes amid a dangerous escalation targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and community institutions, confirming the continuation of the genocidal war waged by Israel since 7 October 2023, while the international community remains largely unable to halt these crimes or hold perpetrators accountable. The Commission believes that Israeli authorities are exploiting regional and international preoccupation with the Israeli–U.S. aggression against Iran and its repercussions to intensify their crimes in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

ICSPR considers what the Gaza Strip is experiencing to be one of the most severe humanitarian catastrophes of the modern era, as killings, destruction, and the systematic targeting of civilians continue. Field data indicate that the cumulative number of victims of the Israeli aggression since the start of the war has exceeded 72,134 killed, in addition to 171,828 injured, as well as thousands of missing persons who remain under the rubble of destroyed homes or in streets that rescue teams cannot reach due to massive destruction and the lack of equipment and resources.

The documentation of ICSPR and the Ministry of Health also confirms the continued fall of victims despite the ceasefire agreement. 649 Palestinians have been killed and 1,730 injured since the ceasefire took effect, reflecting ongoing Israeli violations that have exceeded 2,000 documented breaches.

According to ICSPR’s documentation, Israeli occupation forces have intensified attacks in recent days on residential areas and displaced persons’ tents across the Gaza Strip. Airstrikes and artillery shelling have resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries. Among the most serious crimes was the targeting of a civilian gathering near Al-Katiba Mosque west of Gaza City by an Israeli drone on Sunday, 8 March 2026, killing Mohammad Mustafa Shahada Abu Shadq (31) and Abdulrahman Husni Hamdouna (30), a volunteer paramedic, in addition to injuring others seriously.

In another incident, Israeli shelling targeted a gathering of displaced persons’ tents in Al-Zawaida, killing two girls — Salsabil Anwar Faraj (11) and Nour Saleh Al-Shallalfa (16) — as well as journalist Amal Mohammad Shamali, who was killed while performing her professional duty covering the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This raises the number of journalists killed since the beginning of the aggression to 261, indicating deliberate targeting of journalists and attempts to silence the truth and prevent the suffering of civilians from reaching the world.

ICSPR also condemns the repeated targeting of Palestinian police officers while performing their duties to maintain public order near Al-Katiba Mosque in Gaza City, which led to the killing of Police Captain Sami Abu Ghazal and Sergeant Mohammad Shahada on 6 March 2026. This reflects a systematic Israeli policy aimed at undermining security and creating chaos and social collapse in an attempt to weaken the resilience of Palestinian society, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

ICSPR affirms that Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip are not limited to direct killings and indiscriminate bombardment but also extend to the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israeli forces continue demolition and destruction operations in areas east of the so-called “Yellow Line”, while also targeting gatherings of displaced persons in order to create an atmosphere of terror and worsen the catastrophic situation of Gaza’s population. More than two-thirds of residents now live in overcrowded, damaged shelters or tent communities lacking the most basic necessities of life, including water, electricity, sanitation, and waste management services, raising the risk of epidemics and disease outbreaks in an extremely fragile humanitarian environment.

ICSPR warns that the tightened Israeli blockade and restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, fuel, and gas have led to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Israeli authorities continue to restrict the entry of food and medical aid, prefabricated housing units, and essential equipment, while imposing strict limits on the entry of fuel and cooking gas — allowing in less than one-third of the sector’s needs. This has significantly worsened the humanitarian crisis, particularly during the month of Ramadan, when families’ needs increase, and has also affected the operation of hospitals, water facilities, and bakeries.

In this context, ICSPR confirms that the health system in the Gaza Strip is experiencing near-total collapse due to direct targeting of medical facilities and shortages of fuel, medicines, and medical supplies. Currently, only 260 health centers out of 619 are partially functioning. Hospitals face severe shortages of medicines and surgical supplies, forcing many urgent medical operations to be suspended, while remaining facilities rely on electricity generators that may stop at any moment due to fuel shortages.

ICSPR also notes that women and children bear the greatest burden of the war. More than 12,500 women have been killed since the start of the aggression, and the war has left over 21,000 widowed women responsible for supporting their families under extremely difficult humanitarian and economic conditions. Around 107,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women face serious health risks due to the lack of food and healthcare. Meanwhile, children — who constitute half of the population — are suffering catastrophic impacts including death, injury, malnutrition, psychological trauma, and deprivation of education and basic services.

In the West Bank, Israeli crimes are escalating at an unprecedented level. Israeli forces and armed settler militias continue to carry out field killings and attacks against Palestinian civilians. In recent days alone, six Palestinians were killed in attacks by settlers and occupation forces. The most serious incident occurred east of Ramallah in Khirbet Abu Falah, where Thaer Farouk Hmayel (24), Fayez Joudat Hmayel (57), and Mohammad Hassan Marra (55) were killed. Meanwhile, Amir Shnaran was killed in Masafer Yatta south of Hebron after being assaulted by armed settlers.

This raises the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since 7 October 2023 to 1,118, in addition to more than 15,000 injured and around 25,000 Palestinians arrested during ongoing raids and arrest campaigns targeting Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps, as part of a systematic escalation aimed at consolidating Israeli control over land and dismantling Palestinian civil life.

ICSPR also reports continued grave violations against Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli prisons. Suppression forces simultaneously stormed all prison sections, using excessive violence, stun grenades, pepper spray, and batons against unarmed detainees, resulting in several injuries. These assaults occur alongside systematic policies of medical negligence, restrictions on prisoners, denial of family visits, confiscation of basic necessities, delays in iftar and suhoor meals during Ramadan, and continued practices of torture — in blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions regarding the protection of prisoners during armed conflict.

In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli authorities continue serious violations, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where unprecedented restrictions have been imposed, including closing the mosque and preventing worshippers from reaching it, as well as preventing thousands of Palestinians from performing Tarawih prayers during Ramadan, in clear violation of freedom of worship and international law. At the same time, extremist settler groups are allowed to storm the mosque compound and perform provocative religious rituals, in blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city.

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) expresses deep concern over the stagnation of political efforts aimed at implementing the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, ensuring Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, and enabling the Gaza Administration Committee to carry out its role in leading recovery and reconstruction efforts. Amid regional escalation and international distraction with other crises, these delays threaten the collapse of diplomatic efforts and grant Israel more time to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people.

ICSPR stresses that Israel’s continued impunity encourages the continuation of crimes against Palestinians and undermines the foundations of the international system based on respect for international law and human rights. This situation requires urgent and decisive international action to stop these crimes, protect Palestinian civilians, and end the prevailing climate of impunity.

In light of the above, ICSPR calls on the international community, mediators, and third states party to the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention to:

1. Take immediate action to stop Israeli aggression and the genocidal war and other crimes committed by the Israeli occupation; lift the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip; fully open crossings to allow humanitarian aid, fuel, and medical supplies; ensure the opening of Rafah Crossing to allow the evacuation of patients and wounded and the return of stranded individuals.

2. Provide international protection for Palestinians and pressure Israel to stop settlement expansion and settler attacks in the West Bank; ensure freedom of worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic and Christian holy sites; and guarantee the rights of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.

3. Activate international accountability mechanisms to prosecute Israeli leaders responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity before international courts, and halt all forms of support that enable Israel to continue its colonial and discriminatory policies.