Human Rights Watch: Israel Uses Starvation As Weapon Against Palestinians in Gaza

Human Rights Watch Organization said on Monday that the Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of war in the Gaza Strip, which constitutes a war crime, and that the army is deliberately obstructing humanitarian aid.

Omar Shaker, Israel and Palestine director at the organization, said: “For more than two months, Israel has been depriving Gazans of food and water.

Shaker added that such a policy was either urged or endorsed by senior Israeli officials.

"This policy reflects an intent to starve civilians as a tactic of war.” Shaker appealed to world leaders to condemn this abhorrent war crime, which has devastating effects on the people of Gaza.”

Shaker pointed out that “the ongoing Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, as well as its closure that has continued for 16 years, amounts to collective punishment of the civilian population, which is a war crime.