Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the international community to impose targeted sanctions on Israel on Thursday, accusing it of committing “acts of genocide” in the Gaza Strip by destroying water infrastructure and shutting off supplies to residents.
The New York-based rights group described what it described as intentional attempts by Israeli authorities “of a systematic nature” to deny water to Palestinians in Gaza, which it claimed had “likely caused thousands of deaths… and will likely continue to cause deaths.” The report was specifically about water.
According to the research, Israeli authorities have been purposefully blocking Palestinians’ access to enough water to survive in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
At least 45,097 individuals have been killed in Israel’s invasion of the unlawfully occupied Gaza Strip in reprisal for Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks; the death toll is thought to be significantly higher because thousands more are still missing beneath the debris.
Israel claimed Thursday that the Human Rights Watch report accusing it of carrying out “acts of genocide” in the Gaza Strip by denying civilians access to water was “full of lies.”
A reservoir, a storehouse for spare parts, solar panels that power treatment plants, and the blocking of gasoline for generators were among the water and sanitation infrastructure that the organization claimed was purposefully damaged, according to the HRW report.
According to the report, Israel allegedly shut off electricity, attacked repairmen, and prohibited the importation of repair supplies.
“Israeli authorities purposefully inflicted on the Palestinian population in Gaza ‘conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,'” the investigation said.
It claimed that this constituted “acts of genocide” and the war crime of “extermination.”
“This is extermination, a crime against humanity, and an act of genocide,” HRW Senior Counsel Asia Division Saroop Ijaz stated in an interview with Dawn.com about the report. The Israeli government did more than simply cut off Gaza’s Palestinian population’s water supply.
They also targeted water workers, obstructed water relief, and demolished water infrastructure. “Calculated (for) physical destruction” describes this extremely intentional pattern of behavior.Thus, it qualifies as a genocide.
“Governments arming Israel and undermining accountability efforts risk complicity in Israel’s atrocities in Gaza—countries have a legal and moral responsibility to prevent genocide against Palestinians by implementing targeted sanctions, enforcing an arms embargo, and providing support for justice,” he continued.
Following a report by Amnesty International that found Israel was committing genocide, Human Rights Watch is the second prominent rights organization in as many months to use the term “genocide” to characterize Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Additionally, a report published today by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) discovered “clear signs of ethnic cleansing” in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks.
HRW did not, however, go so far as to accuse Israel of perpetrating “genocide.”
Genocide must be shown by proof of specific intent, which is extremely difficult to prove under international law, according to experts.
The pattern of behavior described in this report, along with claims that some Israeli authorities wanted to exterminate the Palestinians in Gaza, may point to such purpose, according to HRW.
The director of HRW’s Middle East and North Africa division, Lama Faqih, stated during a briefing on the report that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) may conclude that the evidence satisfies the “very strict threshold” of reasonable inference of genocidal intent if there isn’t “a clear articulated plan” to commit genocide.
In October 2023, then-defense minister Yoav Gallant announced a “complete siege” and stated, “No electricity, no food, no water, no gas—it’s all closed.” HRW cited this statement.
South Africa filed a complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last December, claiming that Israel’s invasion of Gaza violated the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. Israel has vehemently refuted this allegation.
Israel claims it allows relief to the besieged enclave and denies purposeful damage to the Gaza population.
“Dehydrated and malnourished.”
The HRW report, which took almost a year to prepare, is based on data analysis, satellite imagery, photos, videos, and interviews with dozens of Palestinians in Gaza, as well as personnel from water and sanitation facilities, medical professionals, and charity workers.
It claimed that inquiries for information were not answered by Israeli authorities.
According to HRW, the scarcity of water in Gaza made Palestinians susceptible to waterborne illnesses and consequences, including infected wounds and the inability to recover from dehydration.
Basic hygienic procedures were also difficult for medical facilities to maintain. According to the paper, deaths from these types of incidents “are probably vastly underreported.”
“Many of their patients have died from preventable diseases and infections and healable wounds due to dehydration and the unavailability of water,” physicians and nurses told HRW.
The report mentioned an ER nurse who stated that they were compelled to make the decision “not to resuscitate children who were severely malnourished and dehydrated.”
Among other things, the rights group demanded that Israel “immediately ensure” that Gaza has enough fuel, electricity, and water.
“Take all measures within their power to prevent genocide by Israeli authorities in Gaza,” the statement added.
This included “reviewing bilateral agreements and diplomatic relations, imposing targeted sanctions, and discontinuing any military assistance and arms sales or transfers.”
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