Massacres against civilians are considered a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits targeting civilians or endangering their lives and safety during armed conflicts. International agreements, including the 1977 Additional Protocol I, require states and combatants to distinguish between military objectives and civilians, criminalizing any deliberate attack or assault on civilians. Article 27 of the Geneva Convention mandates that civilians must be protected at all times from acts of violence, and their lives, physical, or mental integrity must not be violated, including through violence, assault, murder, or torture.
Survivors’ Testimonies of Al-Shifa Hospital Massacres
Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Shifa Hospital, which was sheltering thousands of patients and displaced persons. They conducted a wide-scale arrest campaign and executed killings among the displaced, while bombarding homes surrounding the hospital. This assault resulted in hundreds of martyrs and wounded, forcing those who remained alive to flee to the southern part of Gaza Strip.
Baptist Hospital Massacre
On October 19, 2023, Israeli occupation aircraft bombed the courtyard of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital (Baptist Hospital) in Al-Zaitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, which was sheltering hundreds of displaced civilians, most of whom were women and children.
The Israeli massacre caused a true catastrophe; it tore apart the bodies of the victims, leaving them in scattered and burned remains, while the hospital turned into a pool of blood with over 500 martyrs and more than 600 injured.
Displaced Persons Tent Massacre – Khan Younis
On August 7, 2024, Israeli occupation aircraft committed a massacre against civilians in the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, by targeting a tent belonging to displaced persons from Al-Najjar family among the tents of citizens. This resulted in the martyrdom of more than 12 individuals, including:
- Muhannad Osama Al-Najjar
- Ahmad Osama Al-Najjar
- Widad Ali Al-Najjar
- Haj Ahmad Jum’a Al-Najjar
- Khaled Khalil Abu Daqa
- Yahya Jihad Abu Daqa
- Youssef Abu Nasira
- Yusra Hasan Salem Abu Daqa
- Ahmad Al-Salibi
- Muhammad Al-Salibi
- Khair Al-Din Al-Salibi
- Maryam Qdaih
Massacre of the Al-Saeedi Family Home
On August 18, 2024, Israeli occupation aircraft committed a massacre against civilians by targeting Al-Saeedi family home in Al-Nuseirat Camp in the center of Gaza Strip, resulting in the injury of more than 15 individuals and the martyrdom of more than 6 individuals, among whom were:
- Abdullah Al-Ziyan
- Hashim Abu Hashim
- Mustafa Al-Saeedi
- Abdullah Al-Zayan
- Ahmad Al-Sharif
- Fayiz Muhammad Al-Louh
Asdaa Area Massacre (August 20, 2024)
On August 20, 2024, Israeli occupation aircraft committed a massacre against civilians by targeting tents of displaced persons in Asdaa area of Khan Younis, resulting in the martyrdom of more than 5 individuals, including:
- Alaa Qasem Jundia
- Hanan Mubarak Jundia
- Muhammad Alaa Qasem Jundia
- Samah Talal Ishaq Waked
- Fadi Misbah Suleiman (martyred by a gunshot to the head from a quadcopter)