SAFA — The continued Israeli targeting and killing of Palestinian police personnel is part of a deliberate effort to sow chaos and undermine public security across the Gaza Strip, Ismail Al-Thawabta, director-general of Gaza’s Government Media Office (GMO), said Thursday.

Al-Thawabta said the police force is a civilian institution responsible for maintaining public security and providing essential services to Gaza’s population.

He said the repeated and systematic targeting of police personnel is primarily aimed at weakening Gaza’s internal security and disrupting civilian institutions working to preserve social stability and maintain essential services.

According to Al-Thawabta, the continued targeting of police officers and other civilian personnel demonstrates that the Israeli occupation is not pursuing de-escalation, but rather seeking to prolong its genocide and campaign of killings against Palestinians in Gaza.

He accused the Israeli occupation of disregarding international law and protections afforded to civilian institutions.