Israel has caused 'massive, deliberate forced displacement' of Palestinians in Gaza: Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch released a report documenting evidence of Israeli authorities causing "massive, deliberate forced displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza" since October 2023, the organization said Thursday. The group also accused Israeli officials of "war crimes and crimes against humanity."
"Israeli forces have carried out deliberate, controlled demolitions of homes and civilian infrastructure, including in areas where they have apparent aims of creating 'buffer zones' and security 'corridors,' from which Palestinians are likely to be permanently displaced. Contrary to claims by Israeli officials, their actions do not comply with the laws of war," Human Rights Watch said, in a statement about the report.
Human Rights Watch interviewed displaced Palestinians in Gaza and analyzed Israel's evacuation system, "including 184 evacuation orders and satellite imagery confirming the widespread destruction," the organization said.
"There is no plausible imperative military reason to justify Israel’s mass displacement of nearly all of Gaza’s population, often multiple times. Rather than ensuring civilians’ security, military 'evacuation orders' have caused grave harm," the group said.
The Israel Defense Forces have not commented on the report.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman