Published: 19 November 2024
Last updated: 19 November 2024
Israel has overseen the forced mass displacement of Palestinians in Gaza in a deliberate and systematic campaign that amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity, according to a new Human Rights Watch report.
The 154-page report, published by the US-based advocacy group on Thursday, details more than 13 months of widespread destruction in Gaza that, according to the United Nations, has seen the displacement of about 1.9 million Palestinians – more than 90% of the territory’s population.
In a statement, Human Rights Watch (HRW) cited the illegal and “deliberate, controlled demolitions of homes and civilian infrastructure”, by Israeli forces in Gaza “where they have apparent aims of creating buffer zones and security corridors, from which Palestinians are likely to be permanently displaced”.
“The Israeli government cannot claim to be keeping Palestinians safe when it kills them along escape routes, bombs so-called safe zones, and cuts off food, water, and sanitation,” said Nadia Hardman, a HRW migrant rights researcher.
“Israel has blatantly violated its obligation to ensure Palestinians can return home, razing virtually everything in large areas.”
In a response to the report on Thursday, the Israeli military said it is “committed to international law and operates accordingly”, and that it issues evacuation orders to protect civilians from combat.
The Israeli military also denied there was any “doctrine that aims to cause maximal damage to civilian infrastructure regardless of military necessity”, and said any “reports and complaints regarding the violation of international law” are referred to an internal review body.
Comments3
Ian Light3 December at 12:24 am
Human Rights Watch is correct in the moral world but this a world of immense cruelty love of killing with atrocious barbarism and revenge blood feuds and honour killings .
Israel in fury at the atrocities and barbarism of the Hamas , Islamic Jihad and sadist psychopath gangs on October 7 and the cruel taking of 250 Hostages to cheering crows :and Israel has attacked without sainthood.
But displacements reduces deaths and horrible injuries drastically BUT still with excessively cruel civilian deaths including infants ,young children and whole families .
But Hamas forbade shelter
In their immense tunnel network except for Hamas Leaders and their young ones .
Egypt cruelly has forbidden escape unless you have$US 5-10,000 and ten thousand plus have escaped .
An extremely Humane Israel would help transfer of infants ,young children , their mothers and their maternal grandparents and great grand parents to much safer areas .
RAMON CAPEL20 November at 10:40 pm
Sorry Debbie but that is neither objective nor constructive for a secure future. As a counter-argument one could say that Israel has a long tradition of activism against what in the West are considered human rights, and therefore receives HRW’s remarks.
Can you seriously and honestly believe that degrading and expelling people from their homes is decent human behaviour?
Literally some people to reach empathy need a season in the skin of Others.
Debbie Wiener19 November at 11:36 am
HRW has long had a history of anti Israeli activism. There are reports of trucks loaded and waiting to be delivered but the aid organisations fail to do so.