Months after the nominal ceasefire in Gaza was declared, the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) reported on Wednesday that Palestinians continue to face death and injury due to drone and airstrikes, with particular emphasis on attacks against the region’s police force, which plays a vital role in maintaining peace and facilitating reconstruction.
The OHCHR highlighted the “repeated attacks” and “routine targeting” of law enforcement officials in Gaza, noting that many have been killed while managing traffic and patrolling busy streets and markets.
According to Mayy El Sheikh, spokesperson for the OHCHR in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, this “systematic targeting” of essential public institutions and their personnel has resulted in a breakdown of civic order since the conflict in Gaza escalated following Hamas-led attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Obligations Overlooked
El Sheikh stressed that “Israel, as the occupying authority, holds a responsibility under international law to maintain civic order for Palestinians living under occupation. Targeting these individuals, unless they are directly involved in hostilities, could constitute war crimes.”
Since January 2026, the OHCHR has documented at least 12 attacks on police forces, resulting in the deaths of over 53 civilians, which includes 35 police officers, five minors, and one woman. Notably, four of these attacks occurred in May, leading to the deaths of 12 police personnel.
The UN office expressed concern over the pattern of hostilities, indicating that Israeli forces appear to make “no distinction” between law enforcement officers and members of armed groups in Gaza.
“Nearly eight months have gone by since the ceasefire was announced, yet the killings, chaos, and suffering persist without any sign of resolution,” stated Ajith Sunghay, Head of OHCHR in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Notable Incidents Include:
– **May 23**: An Israeli attack on a police checkpoint in Al Tawam, Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of at least five police officers and two other individuals, including a child.
– **April 24, 2026**: An Israeli drone strike targeting a police vehicle in Al Mawasi camp, near Khan Younis, killed four police officers and four civilians, including a nine-year-old boy.
– **January 31, 2026**: An Israeli airstrike on the Ash Sheikh Radwan Police Station in Gaza City led to 11 fatalities, which included five police officers and a child.
This alert coincides with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Currently, more than 1.9 million of the 2.4 million residents of the enclave have been displaced due to the conflict, with at least 1.2 million of them losing their homes, as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
‘Caught in a Nightmare’
For many, the supposed ceasefire between Hamas and Israeli forces has failed to provide a sense of security. Displacement orders continue to be issued, and “Israeli forces in Gaza persist in destroying what remains of the built environment,” El Sheikh stated in an interview with UN News.
“Gaza remains trapped in a nightmare that is hard to reconcile with the existence of a ceasefire,” she asserted. “Palestinians in Gaza are confined to a small portion of land and are surrounded on all sides by Israeli ground forces, which continue to encroach into Palestinian neighborhoods, further diminishing the space available for civilians.”
