Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the ongoing systematic crimes by the Israeli occupation forces in the context of the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli escalations through direct targeting of civilian vehicles, including a World Health Organization (WHO) vehicle, resulting in the death of the driver and injury of another employee, in addition to a number of other citizens. This also includes the ongoing targeting of civilians’ houses, tents and congregations, which has resulted in the killing of 17 citizens and dozens of injured in less than two days.

The center stresses that this new crime and other crimes come in the context of the ongoing genocide that Israel silently commits, while the world is busy with the events of the war against Iran. This exacerbates the conditions of Palestinian civilians, leaving them without protection, and allowing the occupation forces to commit more crimes without fear of punishment.

According to information received from the field, one citizen was killed and four others were injured at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Monday, 6 April 2026, as a result of gunfire by the Israeli occupation forces centered around “Al-‘Abbara” street, east of Salah al-Din Street, southeast of Khan Yunis. The occupation forces opened their heavy machine gunfire targeting a number of vehicles that were passing through the area, including a white “Jeep Honda,” used by the World Health Organization (WHO). The gunfire resulted in the killing of the 54-year-old driver, Majdi Mustafa Aslan, a resident of the Middle Area, who was contracted by the organization. The accompanying employee, Mohammad Al-Buri’, was slightly injured, as well as three other workers.

Information indicates that the vehicle was one of two which had received coordination for routine transport of patients for treatment abroad, a mission conducted by WHO through visiting Al-Amal Hospital where travel for patients who are referred for treatment abroad is facilitated. On the day the vehicle was targeted, the WHO team was enroute to distribute some clothes to humanitarian societies who in turn distribute to displaced people. A tank stationed near an Israeli military site to the east of Salah al-Din Street, east of Khan Yunis, targeted the two vehicles, directly hitting one resulting in the death of the driver. This flags the incident as particularly serious given that International Humanitarian Law stipulates that protection must be awarded to those providing safe passage and travel for humanitarian relief. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, due to the incident of the direct targeting, the WHO informed PRC of the suspension of patient evacuations and humanitarian travel through the Rafah crossing.

Ahmad Aslan, the son of the victim Majdi Aslan, residing in Al-Bureij camp in the Middle Area, testified: “We have a vehicle rental company, and the World Health Organization has contracted us to for the use of several vehicles, including a white Jeep Honda. My father was driving the car that morning heading from Deir al-Balah to the Red Crescent in Khan Yunis, which is the daily route followed by WHO staff. This route is used to transport staff every morning and to coordinate the passage for patients’ evacuations to the Rafah Crossing to travel abroad. That morning, my father took this route as usual, using “Al A’bbara” street in Khan Younis, and a tank directly opened fire at them, killing him instantly.

In another incident, one citizen was killed and others injured, including a child as a result of Israeli forces targeting an electric bicycle on the Sheikh Radwan Bridge, northwest of Gaza City. In addition, a young man was shot several times in the head, shoulder and foot after an Israeli army quadcopter opened fire on him in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.

On the same day, at around 16:00 p.m., Israeli airstrikes targeted a group of Palestinians near Al-Maghazi Preparatory School for Girls affiliated with UNRWA, which is located east of Al-Maghazi Camp in the Middle Area, and where hundreds of displaced people from various regions of the Gaza Strip are temporarily displaced to. A group of militants affiliated with the occupation forces raided the school, and gunshots were heard. Moments later, the Israeli warplanes bombed a group of citizens near the school, which resulted in the killing of nine citizens and injuring others.

The mother of one of the victims of the Al-Maghazi massacre, Shadi, says: I am disabled, and my son, Shadi, was already wounded during the war. We live around the school where the airstrike occurred. On Monday, 6 April 2026, at around 4 pm, we were sitting in our house when we heard heavy gunshots coming from the school area. Then, my son, Shadi, and his brother went to see what was happening and to help the injured people. When they arrived there, the Israeli warplanes bombed a group of citizens, near to where my sons were. Shadi was killed, and his brother was injured. Shadi is the youngest son, and he recently got married.

The occupation forces continue targeting civilians from various regions of Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 17 killed and 44 injured arrived to the hospitals of the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military strikes launched during the past 48 hours. This increases the number of the victims to 733, with 2,034 injured since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Sharm El-Sheikh and its entry into force on 11 October 2025.

Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights strongly condemns the ongoing Israeli crimes, including the targeting of the WHO vehicle in which one of its contracted drivers was killed and another was injured. The center also stresses that the Israeli occupation forces’ continuation to commit these crimes, despite the ceasefire being in effect, and the tightening blockade and systematic starvation policies, constitutes a deliberate continuation of the ongoing genocide against the residents of the Gaza Strip. While there is no effective international intervention, the center warns that the continuation of this reality exacerbates the complete exposure of civilians and reinforces the serious fear of being singled out and targeted without any significant protection.

Al-Mezan Center calls on the international community to intervene immediately, to take urgent and concrete actions to immediately end all forms of military attacks against civilians and their properties. The center calls for ensuring the opening of all crossings with no restrictions to individuals and humanitarian aid; ensuring the urgent and safe entry of aid, fuel, medical supplies, and relief materials, especially shelter kits; and ensuring the protection of civilians and preventing them from being exposed to further risks or being isolated in light of deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

The center affirms that the obstruction of medical evacuations and humanitarian aid delivery are war crimes that require an urgent and independent international investigation to guarantee the protection of staff and the humanitarian travel arrangements, and to ensure the continuation of medical evacuations.