A damning report by Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli authorities of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity through the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza since October 2023. The 154-page report, titled “‘Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged’: Israel’s Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza,” reveals that Israeli forces have deliberately demolished homes and civilian infrastructure, displacing over 90% of Gaza’s population, approximately 1.9 million Palestinians.
No Imperative Military Reason_: Human Rights Watch found no plausible military justification for Israel’s mass displacement of Gaza’s population, contradicting Israeli officials’ claims.
Grave Harm_: Israeli military “evacuation orders” have caused significant harm, rather than ensuring civilians’ security.
Systematic Displacement_: The report concludes that forced displacement has been widespread and systematic, constituting crimes against humanity.
International Community Urged to Act_: Human Rights Watch calls for targeted sanctions, halting weapons sales to Israel, and an International Criminal Court investigation into Israel’s actions.
“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, refugee and migrant rights researcher at Human Rights Watch .”Israel has blatantly violated its obligation to ensure Palestinians can return home, razing virtually everything in large areas.”
The report urges the international community, particularly the United States and Germany, to immediately suspend weapons transfers and military assistance to Israel, citing the risk of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
