5 stories for 2026-03-12 · Armed conflict, civilian harm & humanitarian access · Israel/Palestine
Israeli forces and settlers have imposed sieges on villages in the Tubas area of the West Bank, surrounding dozens of families and cutting off water supplies. Settlers set fires in homes in Yarza village after forcibly displacing residents. Human rights organizations and medical teams report that Israeli settlers are exploiting movement restrictions imposed during regional conflict to attack Palestinians.
Six Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks in the West Bank since the start of Israel's war, according to the UN. The EU and UK are calling on Israel to stop the escalating violence.
Following the Israeli-Palestinian war, there were expectations that security conditions would improve with discussions about Hamas's potential withdrawal from governance in Gaza. However, reports indicate Hamas has killed Palestinians, triggering angry reactions and renewed concerns about the security situation in the territory.
A Palestinian was killed in western Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike on a civilian vehicle, with additional casualties reported from a separate strike in central Gaza. The closure of the Rafah crossing has prompted warnings of intensifying siege conditions, with prices reportedly rising 300%. Six tankers of cooking gas entered Gaza through an alternative crossing to distribute to approximately 15,000 beneficiaries.
Israeli forces are using double-tap airstrike tactics, a practice where a second strike is conducted shortly after an initial strike, often hitting first responders and civilians in the vicinity. This tactic has been documented as a method resulting in additional civilian casualties.