Israel oversaw the mass forced displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in a deliberate and systematic campaign that amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The 154-page document, published by the US-based advocacy group on Thursday, details more than 13 months of widespread destruction in Gaza which, according to the United Nations, saw the displacement of around 1.9 million people. Palestinians — more than 90% of the territory’s population.
In a statement, HRW cited “illegal, deliberate and controlled demolitions of homes and civil infrastructure” by Israeli forces in the territory.
“Where they have apparent goals of creating ‘buffer zones’ and ‘corridors’ of security, from which Palestinians are likely to be permanently displaced.”
Nadia Hardman, refugee and migrant rights researcher at HRW, said that “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.” ”.
For Hardman, Israel is “blatantly violating its obligation to ensure that Palestinians can return home by leveling virtually everything in large areas.”
In response to the report, the Israeli army said on Thursday (14) that it is “committed to international law and operates accordingly”, issuing deployment orders to protect civilians from the fighting.
The Israeli military also denied that there was any “doctrine that aims to cause maximum damage to civilian infrastructure, regardless of military necessity,”
They stated that any “reports and complaints about violations of international law” are forwarded to an internal review body.
War crimes
Israel was accused by several human rights groups — and UN investigators — of military conduct that could amount to war crimes last year, which it has vehemently denied. Hamas was also accused.
In October, a UN inquiry said Israel had a “concerted policy” of destroying the health system in Gaza in what it said amounted to war crimes.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called these accusations “outrageous” and said they were “another blatant attempt by the (commission) to delegitimize the very existence of the State of Israel and obstruct its right to protect its population while covering up the crimes of terrorist organizations ”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said that “Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing the civilian population.”
On Sunday (10), Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that Palestinians could return to their homes in northern Gaza when the war ended – but not before Israel’s objectives were achieved.
Several Israeli ministers, however, have said they would like to see the Palestinians leave Gaza and reestablish Israeli settlements there.
“We must promote a solution to encourage the emigration of Gazans,” said far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on January 1.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is far-right and also holds a position in the Ministry of Defense, declared that Israel “will govern (in Gaza). And to govern there safely for a long time, we must have a civilian presence.”
The HRW report comes after the US State Department said on Tuesday that Israel did not violate US law, even after a 30-day deadline for it to take specific steps to improve the situation passed. humanitarian aid in Gaza — a stance that conflicts with the findings of aid organizations about the dire reality in the enclave.
Aid agencies have described the situation in northern Gaza as apocalyptic, with areas at imminent risk of famine as Israel wages an ongoing military offensive in the territory.
Human Rights Watch said the Israeli campaign in the northern Gaza Strip would likely lead to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The group called on countries to stop arms sales to Israel and impose sanctions on the Jewish state to force it to comply with its international obligations to protect civilians.
It also called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the alleged forced displacement of Palestinians as a crime against humanity.
Almost the entire population of Gaza has been displaced amid the new Israeli offensive
This content was originally published in Human rights organization accuses Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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