OHCHR: Israeli strikes on Internally Displaced Persons and killing of persons collecting firewood in Gaza raise further concerns about attacks on civilians

UN Human Rights in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Ramallah, 29 September 2025

The UN Human Rights office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is dismayed that the Israeli military is destroying Gaza City, forcing Palestinians to flee and then killing them when they seek shelter in Middle Gaza, especially in and around An Nuseirat Camp.

While the mass displacement from Gaza City and the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into Middle Gaza continued, the Israeli military intensified strikes on the northwestern part of the governorate, covering An Nuseirat and Az Zawaida areas. During the 5 days between 2 4 and 28 September, the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory recorded at least 12 incidents in this area alone, which killed at least 89 Palestinians in total, most of whom appear to be civilians, including many children and women.

Those incidents include the 24 September strike on IDP tents near A Ahly Club in An Nuseirat which killed 13 Palestinians, including 7 women/girls; the 25 September strike on the house of the Abu Dahroug family in Az Zawaida which reportedly killed 11 Palestinians, including 4 women/girls; the 26 September strike on an IDP tent in western An Nuseirat which reportedly killed 8 Palestinians; the 27 September strike on the Abu Jamal family house in An Nuseirat which reportedly killed at least 9 Palestinians, i ncluding 4 girls and 2 women; and the 28 September strike on the Abu Amer family’s house in southeastern An Nuseirat which reportedly killed 13 Palestinians. The strike on the crowded market in An Nuseirat Camp in late afternoon on 27 September reportedly killed at least 17 Palestinians, including children.

In addition, the Israeli military has reportedly launched airstrikes from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), artillery shelling, and live gunfire against those gathering firewood, especially in northern Middle Gaza, causing dozens of casualties. Between 1 August and 23 September, the Office recorded 14 such attacks, which killed 21 Palestinians, including at least 1 child. Israel has completely blocked the entry of cooking gas since 2 March 2025, forcing people to rely on wood, mostly derived from flammable debris from destroyed buildings and broken furniture, as the only available source of fuel for cooking.

Under international humanitarian law, Israel is obliged to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants and to refrain from directing attacks against civilians. In situations of doubt, individuals must be presumed to be civilians. The strikes which kill many Palestinians, including children and women, as well as the use of live ammunition against Palestinians collecting firewood, appear to amount to attacks directed at civilians, demonstrably not directly participating in hostilities, and also suggest a policy of preventing Palestinians from accessing the necessities of life.