ICSPR: The Occupation Continues Genocide and the Destruction of Towers and Residential Homes under a Scorched Earth Policy, Committing Massacres against Civilians and Journalists in Gaza

Date: 16 September 2025

Press Release

ICSPR: The Occupation Continues Genocide and the Destruction of Towers and Residential Homes under a Scorched Earth Policy, Committing Massacres against Civilians and Journalists in Gaza

The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights (ICSPR) reports that Israeli occupation forces have continued to commit acts of genocide for the 711th consecutive day, amid escalating military aggression against Gaza City and its densely populated neighborhoods. The occupation army persists in implementing a “scorched earth” policy, destroying towers, homes, and shelters, including the demolition of Al-Ghafri Tower (22 floors), as part of systematic extermination and destruction crimes. So far, 26 towers, over 4,000 homes and residential buildings, and 13,000 displacement tents have been targeted, alongside shelter centers, in a clear plan to impose mass forced displacement on the residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza.

During the past 24 hours, the occupation launched the most intense wave of “fire-belt” bombings in weeks, targeting the neighborhoods of Al-Daraj, Al-Sabra, Sheikh Radwan, Tel Al-Hawa, Al-Shati, Al-Karama, and Al-Sudaniya, using fighter jets, Apache helicopters, drones, heavy artillery, and detonating armored vehicles and booby-trapped robots packed with tons of explosives inside residential areas. These attacks resulted in a series of massacres against Palestinian families and the destruction of dozens of homes and neighborhoods:

• Bombing the homes of the Zaqout, Hamad, and Balousha families near Gaza’s General Security area killed 8 civilians, injured over 40, and left dozens missing.

• Targeting the homes of the Taha and Masoud families in Al-Daraj resulted in 6 deaths and dozens of injuries.

• Bombing the homes of the Hindi, Khudri, and Siam families in Al-Sabra, near the Holy Family School and Al-Shati camp, caused 9 deaths and dozens of injuries.

• In Deir Al-Balah, airstrikes on the Tamraz family home killed Mawsood Tamraz, his wife, and their daughter Roz, joining their children Saeed and Eileen, who were killed at the start of the Israeli aggression.

The military attacks also destroyed an entire residential block in Bani Amer, Al-Daraj, causing dozens of casualties under the rubble, while civil defense teams remain unable to cope due to lack of equipment and fuel.

Since the beginning of this month, ICSPR reports that Israeli crimes have forcibly displaced approximately 350,000 citizens from Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip, under extremely harsh humanitarian conditions, with severe shortages of tents, transportation, and overcrowding in already stressed southern areas suffering from famine and total infrastructure collapse.

ICSPR indicates that in the past 24 hours, 82 Palestinians were killed, bringing the total number of fatalities to approximately 65,000, 60% of whom are women and children, with 165,000 injured, including thousands with amputated limbs. Additionally, 425 civilians have died from famine, including 145 children, with 3 new deaths reported in the past 24 hours due to malnutrition. Furthermore, 2,497 civilians were killed and over 18,182 injured while waiting for humanitarian aid at distribution points controlled by the U.S.-Israeli forces.

ICSPR strongly condemns the horrific massacres that claimed the lives of three journalists: Mohammed Al-Kuwaifi (Shehab Agency), Ayman Haniya (Al-Manara Agency), and Iman Al-Zamli (Palestine News Network), raising the total number of journalist martyrs since the start of the aggression to 251, a crime that reaffirms Israel’s determination to silence witnesses, suppress the truth, and prevent media coverage of genocide.

ICSPR warns against further military escalation in Gaza City and expresses grave concern over potential massacres targeting approximately 800,000 civilians who have decided to remain in the city. The organization calls on the international community, led by the United Nations and the countries party to the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities, immediately intervene to protect Gaza’s population, stop Israeli aggression and genocide, provide safe corridors for humanitarian aid, hold Israeli leaders and their partners accountable, impose sanctions on the occupation state, prevent forced displacement, and preserve the Palestinian cause.

ICSPR reiterates its call to the UN General Assembly to activate the “Uniting for Peace” mechanism, form an international humanitarian alliance, and deploy a protective force to ensure civilian and property safety and confront Israeli occupation crimes. The organization also renews its appeal to all free people and international solidarity forces to escalate popular, media, and legal campaigns, aiming for a global civil disobedience movement to pressure governments and the UN to act “before it’s too late.”