Hajj Farouk Dabbash, a 68-year-old resident of the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in northern Gaza City, began his day as he often did—carrying a white plastic bag to collect firewood. This mundane task had become a necessity for him and his family, as the Israeli occupation forces have barred cooking gas from entering Gaza since the onslaught on October 7, 2023.

Dabbash, the sole provider for his family of six, ventured out in search of firewood to prepare meals. However, as he reached the third street, his routine was violently interrupted. An Israeli quadcopter drone fired on him, leaving him gravely wounded. Bleeding profusely, he lay unaided for hours, as anyone attempting to approach him risked being targeted.

For his family, the hours of uncertainty were harrowing. Muhammad Dabbash, a relative, recounted how they desperately searched the area, their hearts heavy with fear. Israeli drones dominated the skies, opening fire indiscriminately, ensuring that no one could approach the area where Farouk had been shot.

Only after repeated attempts did young men in the neighbourhood report seeing a figure matching Farouk’s description. They had seen him lying lifeless, but the drone attacks prevented anyone from retrieving his body. Eventually, at 2 p.m., Farouk's family managed to reach him. By then, it was too late; he had succumbed to his injuries after hours of agonizing abandonment.

Since October 7, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened dramatically. The Israeli occupation forces have intensified their use of drones for targeted killings and extrajudicial executions, transforming the skies into instruments of terror. While drones were initially used for surveillance and reconnaissance, their deployment as weapons has escalated the suffering of Gazans.

Human rights organisations, including the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, have documented numerous cases of drone-inflicted killings. Their reports highlight how these remotely piloted devices not only fire on civilians but also sow psychological terror by creating constant noise, deepening the trauma of Gaza's already beleaguered residents.

The story of Hajj Farouk Dabbash is one of many, a tragic reminder of the daily injustices faced by the people of Gaza under relentless occupation and aggression.