"Acts Of Genocide": Israel Accused Of Killing Gazans By Denying Them Water
Human Rights Watch and MSF accuse Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza due to restricted water access, causing widespread deaths. Israeli authorities deny these claims, citing ongoing humanitarian efforts.
Deccan Freedom News
Israel faces serious allegations of "acts of genocide" in Gaza, accused by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) of using water deprivation as a weapon during its 14-month military campaign against Hamas. The HRW report highlights deliberate actions by Israeli authorities to disrupt water and sanitation infrastructure, which reportedly led to thousands of deaths and created unlivable conditions for Palestinians in Gaza.
The conflict, which began after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people in Israel, escalated into a severe humanitarian crisis. In retaliation, Israeli airstrikes and operations reportedly resulted in over 45,000 deaths in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to Hamas-run health ministry data verified by the UN.
HRW accused Israel of inflicting conditions designed to "bring about physical destruction" of Gaza’s population. It cited statements from Israeli leaders, such as the October 2023 "complete siege" declaration, as suggestive of intent. However, Israel denied these claims, asserting ongoing efforts to maintain water pipelines and humanitarian aid into Gaza.
MSF Secretary General Christopher Lockyear also accused Israel of exhibiting "signs of ethnic cleansing," citing mass killings, forced displacement, and unbearable living conditions in northern Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed these claims as false and part of anti-Israel propaganda.
The report by HRW underscores severe public health issues caused by the water crisis, including malnutrition and dehydration, which overwhelmed Gaza's medical facilities. Some health workers described being forced to make life-and-death decisions for children in critical condition.
Despite these grave allegations, Israel continues to contest accusations of genocide, arguing its military actions are against Hamas and not the civilian population. The legal complexities of proving genocide, including intent, remain a contentious point in international law discussions.
This situation adds another chapter to the ongoing global debate on the Gaza conflict, as international bodies investigate potential war crimes and violations of humanitarian law.
What's Your Reaction?
