Human Rights Watch (HRW) has unequivocally called out Israel for its continued campaign of deliberate, systematic forced displacement in Gaza, labeling these actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity. In a comprehensive report, the humanitarian organization highlights the mass forced expulsion of Palestinian civilians, resulting in the displacement of over 90% of Gaza’s population. The report condemns these acts as part of a larger state policy that constitutes ethnic cleansing.
“The world has known for some time that Israeli authorities are committing widespread atrocities in Gaza. When will governments finally say stop?”
🔊 Listen to @astroehlein’s Daily Brief on Israel’s crimes against humanity in #Gaza: https://t.co/gGGEvpYfB7 pic.twitter.com/tcuKXV5iBe
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) November 14, 2024
Israeli authorities, under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior government officials, have orchestrated a military campaign marked by widespread violence and severe human rights abuses. According to HRW, Israeli forces have engaged in deliberate strategies to clear significant areas in Gaza, creating buffer zones and so-called security corridors while making the return of displaced Palestinians impossible. This conduct has been systematically designed to reshape the region’s demographics, rendering large sections of Gaza uninhabitable for its original residents.
Evidence of Intentional Displacement and Ethnic Cleansing
The HRW report, spanning 154 pages, details the destruction and human cost inflicted by Israel’s year-long military operations. Through direct interviews with displaced Palestinians, satellite imagery analysis, and official statements by Israeli leaders, HRW paints a harrowing picture of forced displacement that is not incidental but intentional.
“Senior officials in the Israeli government and the War Cabinet have repeatedly declared their intent to forcibly displace the population from the early days of the war,” said Nadia Hardman, author of the report. “Statements from ministers asserting that Gaza will shrink in size further confirm the policy of permanent displacement.”
Read More: Church of England Faces Reckoning Over John Smyth Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up
Israeli military directives, which purport to ensure civilian safety, have been revealed by HRW to fall short of legal obligations under the laws of war. Instead, these directives facilitated the death and suffering of countless Palestinians by failing to provide genuine safe passage or refuge.
Violent Realities on the Ground
HRW’s findings make clear that Israel’s claims of civilian protection ring hollow. “The Israeli government cannot claim to be keeping Palestinians safe when it kills them along escape routes, bombs so-called safe zones, and cuts off food, water, and sanitation,” Hardman pointed out.
The ongoing campaign has been marked by airstrikes targeting densely populated areas, infrastructure destruction, and military orders that force civilians into even more perilous conditions. The violence has been so pervasive that essential services are collapsing, and those attempting to flee face lethal threats on their evacuation routes.
International Response and the Role of the United States
HRW’s report also underscores the lack of significant action by the international community. The organization has called for measures including targeted sanctions, suspension of arms transfers, and a formal investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Despite these recommendations, international bodies have struggled to impose meaningful consequences on Israel.
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has notably continued its military support despite growing evidence of severe humanitarian violations. Recent assessments by U.S. officials concluded that Israel had not breached American laws on blocking humanitarian aid supplies. This decision was made even after a 30-day deadline set by the U.S. State Department for Israel to boost humanitarian aid access passed without substantial change.
Such stances have drawn criticism from global human rights advocates who argue that turning a blind eye only enables further violence and suffering. Aid agencies have described the situation in Gaza as dire, with parts of the territory at risk of famine as the Israeli military campaign presses on.
Clear Patterns of State Policy
The HRW report makes it clear that the forced displacement is not only widespread but systematic and intentional—a calculated effort by Israeli authorities to alter the demographic and political landscape of Gaza permanently. This state-led policy has created conditions that make any meaningful return of the displaced population nearly impossible. In areas transformed into buffer zones and cleared expanses, the scars of ethnic cleansing are evident.
“What we are witnessing is not just a tragic outcome of war but a deliberate policy aimed at reshaping Gaza’s future by expelling its people,” said Hardman. Such policies violate international human rights laws and have been recognized as acts of ethnic cleansing. The international community’s silence or passive support only emboldens the continued devastation and displacement of Palestinians.
Urgent Need for Accountability
Human Rights Watch has urged global actors to prioritize the protection of Palestinian rights through comprehensive sanctions and legal investigations. The report calls for the suspension of arms transfers that facilitate such crimes and emphasizes the need for the ICC to step in to investigate and prosecute responsible Israeli officials.
The time for diplomatic ambiguity has passed. The international community must recognize and respond to Israel’s policies for what they are: a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing and a series of crimes against humanity. Without accountability, the cycle of violence and dispossession will persist, deepening the suffering of Palestinians and undermining any hope for lasting peace.