Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza, citing deliberate forced displacement of Palestinians

By richardbrown // 2024-11-19

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A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses Israeli authorities of deliberately and systematically causing the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, calling these actions war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report, based on satellite imagery, Israeli military evacuation orders, and statements from Israeli officials, shows that Israel has made it effectively impossible for many Palestinians to return to many parts of Gaza. HRW argues that the scale of the destruction — targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas — has left much of Gaza uninhabitable. (Related: Yoav Gallant: Israel's Gaza presence driven by political motives, not security concerns.) HRW's lead researcher, Nadia Hardman, described the destruction as "massive and deliberate." Israeli forces have destroyed vital civilian infrastructure, including water, sanitation, energy, and communication networks, as well as schools and hospitals. "So much civilian infrastructure has been destroyed that much of Gaza has been rendered uninhabitable," Hardman stated. The report further highlights the Israeli military’s destruction of homes, orchards, fields, and greenhouses, contributing to the widespread displacement of Palestinian civilians. In addition to the widespread destruction, HRW drew attention to the expansion of Israeli military “buffer zones” in Gaza. These zones are created by razing entire neighborhoods and constructing new military roads and infrastructure. One prominent example is the creation of the "Netzarim Corridor," a new road over 2.4 miles wide that cuts across Gaza from north to south. This military infrastructure is continuing to expand, further encroaching on Palestinian territory and displacing more residents. Israeli officials argue that such measures are necessary for security, citing the threat from militant groups in Gaza. For example, Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Avi Dicther described creating a "fire zone" around Gaza to prevent anyone from approaching the Israeli border. However, HRW contends that these justifications do not align with the scale of destruction, which the report argues constitutes one of the clearest examples of forcible transfer. Under international law, forcible transfer is considered a war crime if done intentionally.

Israel's ultimate goal is to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip

HRW's investigation uncovered evidence that Israel's actions in Gaza are part of a broader, deliberate plan to displace Palestinians. The report cites statements from senior Israeli officials, including extremist and Jewish supremacist politicians who has openly supported or endorsed the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. For example, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich called for the "total annihilation" of Gaza's cities in April. Similarly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously made statements indicating support for the permanent displacement of Palestinians, although he has since tried to downplay these remarks. HRW's report also criticizes how Israel has issued evacuation orders. HRW found that many of these orders were unclear, contradictory or issued too late to give civilians enough time to evacuate safely. In some cases, evacuation orders were issued after military attacks had already begun, leaving residents in dangerous and uncertain situations. Gabi Ivens, an HRW researcher, noted that the lack of clear and timely guidance contributed to confusion, making it difficult for civilians to understand where and when to move. This HRW report builds on warnings from Palestinian human rights organizations, which have claimed that Israel is systematically "emptying northern Gaza" of its residents. These groups have raised concerns that Palestinians who flee will never be able to return to their homes, fearing Israel’s plan to resettle these areas with Israeli civilians. These fears are compounded by the recent attendance of several Israeli politicians at a conference in late October promoting the idea of reestablishing Israeli settlements in Gaza. Limor Son Har Melech, a member of the Jewish supremacist Otzma Yehudit party, which is part of Netanyahu’s coalition, stated at the conference that Gaza “is the property of our ancestors” and vowed to “settle it again.” Such rhetoric underscores the ideological drive among some Israeli politicians to reassert control over Gaza, even though the settlements were evacuated nearly two decades ago. HRW's report adds to mounting evidence that Israel’s actions in Gaza represent a coordinated strategy of forcibly displacing Palestinians, undermining their ability to return home. The ongoing destruction of homes and infrastructure, along with the expansion of military zones, constitutes a grave violation of international law, specifically concerning forced population transfers. As the situation in Gaza escalates, the international community faces increasing pressure to address these violations and hold accountable those responsible for the ongoing crisis. Watch this short clip showing Israeli soldiers deliberately burning down a school-turned-refugee camp in northern Gaza. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Israel's ultimate goal is to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip

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