Allegations of Forcible Transfer and Ethnic Cleansing
(HRW) claims 's evacuation orders in Gaza constitute the "war crime of forcible transfer" and "ethnic cleansing" in certain areas, aiming to make Palestinian return impossible.
HRW's report, based on satellite imagery and interviews, highlights the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure and the creation of military buffer zones as evidence of intentional displacement.
International Response and Legal Concerns
The report calls for an investigation by the and urges sanctions against Israel, contrasting with the US state's department's recent stance on aid and military assistance.
HRW emphasizes that under international law, Israel, as the occupying power, must facilitate the return of displaced persons, which it alleges Israel has failed to do by rendering large areas of Gaza uninhabitable.