Israel must immediately halt its escalating full-scale assault on Gaza City and plans to displace hundreds of thousands of its residents which will compound an already unbearable level of civilian suffering amidst Israel’s deliberate starvation campaign and its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, said Amnesty International today.
In recent days Israel has stepped up military attacks on Gaza City killing scores of civilians, destroying homes and other civilian objects including in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun and Shejaiyah. It has also mobilized large numbers of reservists and has once again issued mass displacement orders to the city’s residents.
Entire swathes of Gaza City declared no-go zones
“Israel is pressing ahead with its cruel and deadly assault on Gaza City with utter disregard for Palestinian civilians, amidst a famine of its own making, defying repeated calls from humanitarian and human rights organizations, UN officials and world leaders to stop its onslaught. In doing so, Israel is revealing its chilling determination to continue its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.
“Israel’s assault on Gaza City will entrench its unlawful occupation and again forcibly displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, causing further death and destruction. Forcibly displacing Palestinians within or out of the Gaza Strip would violate international humanitarian law and constitute the war crime of unlawful transfer or deportation. The operation could also endanger the lives of Israeli hostages and undermine the prospect of their safe return to their families.”
Earlier today Hamas released a video showing two Israelis held hostage; Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel. In the video, Gilboa-Dalal is heard saying that he is in Gaza City and at least eight other hostages are located in the area. Amnesty International reiterates its call for the immediate release of all civilian hostages and for Hamas to stop subjecting hostages to degrading and humiliating treatment.
Mass evacuation of Gaza City impossible
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross it is impossible, under current conditions, to conduct a mass evacuation of Gaza City in a manner that conforms to international humanitarian law. The majority of displaced Palestinians have already been forcibly displaced multiple times and are living in squalid, overcrowded makeshift camps deprived of their most basic needs. Many have nowhere safe to go or are unable to leave because they are malnourished, sick, injured or have disabilities.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as of 27 August over 86% of the Gaza Strip is within the Israeli-militarized zone or under displacement orders. The latest displacement order for Gaza City on 26 August impacts over 200,000 people. The Israeli military has instructed residents to go to the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza, however the area has since been attacked by Israeli forces and the UN has warned that the area is poorly equipped to host people, including due to lack of water, overcrowded tents and lack of access to medical care due to the decimation of Gaza’s health sector.
“Time and again the world has watched at the sidelines as Israel continues to defy the most basic principles of humanity. States must not continue to stand by as Israel proceeds with its brazen plan to annihilate and seize full control of Gaza City wreaking further bloodshed, destruction, displacement, and suffering on Palestinian civilians,” said Erika Guevara Rosas.
States must take concrete action during UN General Assembly
“UN member states gathering at the General Assembly in New York next week must take concrete action to halt Israel’s genocide and make clear that its inhumane policies will no longer be tolerated. Israel must immediately halt its operation in Gaza City, lift its illegal blockade and allow unhindered flow of aid into and throughout the Gaza Strip.
“The publication of an apparently US-sponsored postwar plan that would forcibly displace the entire population of Gaza underscores the urgent need for states to comply with their legal obligations to prevent further grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.”
