The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has documented cases where the Israeli army targeted Palestinian civilians, including journalists, with sniper or drone fire as they attempted to access communications and internet services in various parts of the Gaza Strip.

“At least seven civilians have been killed in the northern Gaza governorate in less than a week after they were directly targeted by Israeli army drones in the Al-Bashir area of Tal Al-Zaatar in Jabalia Camp. The victims were attempting to access internet services to communicate with their families and relatives,” the watchdog said, Al Jazeera reported. 

The Geneva-based group explained that Palestinian civilians are climbing to high elevations in an effort to intercept communications signals to access the internet using electronic cards, after Israeli forces destroyed Palestinian communications networks.

“On 22 January, a group of journalists were targeted by Israeli aircraft while attempting to obtain internet services in the Tal Al-Zaatar area of Jabalia. A young man, Muhammad Al-Ghoula, was killed, and the journalist Imad Ghabboun was injured during the attack,” it said.

According to the Euro-Med Monitor, Israel particularly targets civilians trying to pick up communications and internet signals in besieged areas where serious human rights violations are occurring. “This hinders press coverage of the violations and makes it difficult for residents to report them.”