Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a comprehensive report accusing Israel of mass displacement in Gaza, describing it as a deliberate campaign that constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to HRW’s 154-page report, over the past 13 months, Israeli military actions have resulted in the displacement of approximately 1.9 million Palestinians—over 90% of Gaza’s population.
The report highlights the destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure through what HRW calls “deliberate, controlled demolitions,” aimed at creating buffer zones and security corridors. HRW’s Nadia Hardman stated that Israeli measures have severely impeded Palestinians’ ability to return home, effectively razing entire neighborhoods.
In response, the Israeli military emphasized its commitment to international law and stated that evacuation orders are issued to protect civilians from conflict zones. The military rejected claims of targeting civilian infrastructure without military necessity and noted that violations are referred to an internal review process.
The HRW report comes amid broader accusations from other human rights bodies and UN investigators pointing to potential war crimes committed during Israeli operations. The Israeli government has strongly denied such allegations, maintaining that its military actions are necessary for national security.
The HRW report urges international actors to suspend arms sales to Israel and calls for an International Criminal Court investigation into the alleged forced displacement as a crime against humanity. Aid agencies have described northern Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as dire, warning of famine risks as military operations continue.
Al Jazeera, The Guardian, CNN, BBC News, Haaretz, Reuters, Dawn News, New York Times,
