Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza

Human Rights Watch released a report on Thursday alleging that Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The report asserts that Israeli officials, who have consistently displaced and relocated civilians, are "committing the war crime of forcible transfer," and their actions "appear to also meet the definition of ethnic cleansing" in regions where Palestinians are unable to return.

According to the report, Human Rights Watch determined that forced displacement has been extensive, with evidence indicating it is systematic and part of a state policy. Such actions are also classified as crimes against humanity.

There was no immediate response from the Israeli military or foreign ministry; however, Israeli officials have previously stated that their military operations adhere to international law.

The law of armed conflict prohibits the forced displacement of civilian populations from occupied territories, except when necessary for the safety of civilians or for imperative military reasons.

Israel has argued that the displacement is essential to protect civilians from conflict or to achieve military objectives.

"The Israeli government cannot assert that it is safeguarding Palestinians while simultaneously causing their deaths along escape routes, bombing designated safe zones, and cutting off access to food, water, and sanitation," stated Human Rights Watch researcher Nadia Hardman in a press release accompanying the report. "Israel has egregiously violated its duty to ensure that Palestinians can return home, effectively destroying nearly everything in vast areas."

Hardman emphasized that the report's conclusions are based on interviews with displaced Gazans, satellite imagery, and public reporting conducted up until August 2024.