Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza due to restricted access to water
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing "acts of genocide" in Gaza by deliberately restricting Palestinian civilians' access to adequate water.
The organization claims that Israel has intentionally damaged water and sanitation infrastructure, leading to severe consequences.
According to HRW, these actions have likely resulted in thousands of deaths, which it describes as amounting to "the crime against humanity of extermination."
The 179-page report asserts that "since October 2023, Israeli authorities have deliberately obstructed Palestinians' access to the minimum water needed for survival in Gaza."
HRW alleges that Israel deliberately damaged infrastructure, including solar panels that power treatment plants, a reservoir, and a warehouse containing spare parts. It also claims that Israel blocked fuel supplies for generators, cut electricity, attacked repair workers, and prevented essential repair materials from entering Gaza.
"This isn't just negligence," said HRW executive director Tirana Hassan. "It is a calculated policy of deprivation that has led to the deaths of thousands from dehydration and disease. This amounts to the crime against humanity of extermination and an act of genocide."
The report is based on interviews with dozens of Palestinians, including water authority officials, sanitation experts, and healthcare workers. It also incorporates satellite imagery and data spanning from October 2023 to September 2024.
Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken.
Since then, at least 45,129 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. However, the report does not specify how many of these deaths were directly caused by lack of water access or related factors.
HRW highlights that for an act to be classified as genocide, there must be evidence of intent. The report suggests that certain statements made by senior Israeli officials "may indicate such intent."
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's highest court, is currently reviewing a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of genocide.
The 1948 Genocide Convention, established in response to the Nazi Holocaust, defines genocide as "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group."
