Human Rights Center: Establishing Armed Militias Does Not Absolve Israel of Criminal Responsibility

The Gaza Center for Human Rights strongly condemned the criminal operations perpetrated by armed militias operating on behalf of the Israeli army within the Gaza Strip. The most recent of these operations resulted in the killing of 10 civilians after Israeli occupation forces intervened to provide direct protection and support to these militias following their large-scale attacks in the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Center explained that an armed force from these militias advanced on Monday evening, April 6, 2026, towards the western side of the Maghazi camp, penetrating a densely populated area adjacent to the Green Line (the Green Line), and began carrying out criminal attacks. Upon discovering the force, residents confronted them. During this confrontation, Israeli army drones provided direct support to the invading militia, firing heavily and indiscriminately into the camp’s alleyways for a full hour to secure their withdrawal. The attack resulted in the killing of 10 civilians and injuries to dozens more.

He noted that his field team had previously documented numerous heinous crimes committed by these militias, including the looting of aid convoys, kidnapping and torture, and horrific killings, all under the protection of the Israeli army.

The human rights center stressed that forming, supporting, or directing local militias to operate on behalf of an occupying power, and carrying out armed and criminal operations within densely populated civilian areas, constitutes a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. This entails direct legal responsibility for the occupying power, whether for the actions of its regular forces or for the actions of militias operating under its direction, protection, or support.

The center affirmed that all crimes and violations committed by these groups fall under the full legal responsibility of the Israeli occupation forces as the occupying power.

The center believes that the occupation’s use of armed militias to carry out security or military tasks within camps and residential neighborhoods constitutes a dangerous escalation and an attempt to circumvent its legal responsibilities. It reflects a continued policy of targeting civilians and endangering their lives, within a broader context of systematic violations that amount to war crimes.

In light of this, the center called upon the international community, including the United Nations and the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions, to take immediate action to pressure Israel to cease this unlawful conduct and ensure that local militias are not used as a tool to suppress the civilian population or to conduct military operations within populated areas.

The center also demanded an independent international investigation into this crime and similar crimes, holding all those involved accountable, ensuring justice and compensation for the victims, and working to provide effective international protection for civilians in the Gaza Strip, given the clear inability to curb the escalating violations.