In a stark report released this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, alleging that its military operations have led to deliberate and systematic mass displacement of Palestinians. The report highlights actions that HRW claims amount to “forcible transfer” and potentially “ethnic cleansing.”
Mass Displacement and Evacuation Orders
According to the United Nations, approximately 1.9 million Palestinians—90% of Gaza’s population—have been displaced in the past year. Additionally, 79% of the territory is currently under Israeli evacuation orders, forcing residents to flee their homes. HRW report states that such large-scale displacement lacks justification under international law and constitutes a breach of laws of armed conflict.
HRW’s investigation, based on interviews with displaced Palestinians, satellite imagery, and analysis of evacuation orders, concludes that re is no credible military necessity for the displacement report further claims that Israel’s actions fail to meet legal requirements for the safe and humane relocation of civilians, as stipulated under international law.
Accusations of Systematic Destruction
HRW report accuses Israel of intentionally destroying civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, bakeries, and water facilities. Satellite imagery reveals extensive damage in areas Israel has designated as “buffer zones,” with destruction allegedly aimed at creating permanent corridors that bisect Gaza.
“Such acts also constitute crimes against humanity,” the report states, emphasizing that organized and violent displacement of Palestinians appears to be systematic and state-directed. It warns that the actions may render the return of displaced persons impossible, raising fears of permanent demographic changes in Gaza.
Israeli Response
The Israeli government has categorically denied the allegations. Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the report “completely false and detached from reality.” He stated that Israel’s military operations target Hamas’ infrastructure and are conducted by law of armed conflict.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also rejected HRW’s claims, arguing that evacuation orders are issued to minimize civilian harm and that military operations are confined to areas with known Hamas presence. “IDF only operates in areas where he is confirmed military activity,” the statement added.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
report comes as Gaza faces an escalating humanitarian crisis. Over the past five weeks, Israel’s ground offensive in northern Gaza has displaced an additional 130,000 people. UN estimates that 75,000 individuals remain trapped in besieged towns like Jabalia and Beit Hanoun, where access to food, water, and medical supplies is critically limited.
HRW alleges that Israel has exacerbated the crisis by blocking most humanitarian aid and striking designated evacuation routes. “Evacuation orders have been inconsistent, frequently uncommunicated, and do not account for vulnerable populations such as people with disabilities,” the report says.
International Reactions
the report has reignited debates over the legality and morality of Israel’s actions in Gaza. A recent UN General Assembly report has also accused Israel of employing warfare methods that may constitute genocide, citing mass casualties and life-threatening conditions imposed on Palestinians.
However, the accusations have drawn sharp criticism. U.S. State Department has rejected genocide allegations, calling them “unfounded.” Spokesperson Vedant Patel reiterated the U.S.’s support for Israel, stating that its military actions aim to dismantle Hamas following the group’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage.
Casualty Figures and Outlook
Since the conflict’s escalation in October 2023, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that more than 43,700 people have been killed. The mounting death toll, coupled with large-scale displacement and infrastructure destruction, has intensified calls for an immediate ceasefire and a reassessment of Israel’s military strategy.
HRW report’s findings have raised urgent questions about accountability and the future of Gaza’s displaced population, as the international community grapples with the devastating human toll of ongoing conflict.
