The Israeli authorities have been condemned by a new report from Human Rights Watch for the systematic forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, branding it part of a war crimes policy and crimes against humanity. According to Thursday’s published report, international monitoring of Israel’s moves inside Gaza Enclave is on the increase, where most of the 2.3 million people in the besieged area have been displaced by continuous military operations.

Systematic Displacement: Findings of Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch established, gathering evidence in Gaza, that “enforced displacement” of the Palestinians is not accidental but represents a strategic, state-driven policy. The organization showed further arguments that fit the criteria of the crime against humanity based on the heavy and direct consequences for civilians brought by the Gaza Strip. In turn, the movement of people from their homes has an unjustified character to international law as one of the ways of fulfilling security needs or military necessity.

“The evidence shows it has been systematic and part of a state policy,” the report said. HRW indicated that such actions contravened international law, which prohibited the forced displacement of civilian populations unless there were direct threats to their safety or severe military needs.

Israel’s Response: Denial of War Crimes Accusations

Israel has vigorously protested the assertions made in this report. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said the claims were “completely false and out of touch with reality.” Marmorstein added that the actions of Israel’s military serve to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities, not the civilian populations of Gaza. Marmorstein further added that Hamas uses civilians as human shields while storing armed forces within civilian buildings such as houses, schools, and medical facilities.

“Israel views all civilian harm as a tragedy, while Hamas views all civilian harm as a strategy,” Marmorstein said, defending Israel’s actions as consistent with the law of armed conflict. The spokesperson emphasized that Israel is committed to minimizing civilian casualties and operating within the legal frameworks of warfare.

Hamas Denies Allegations of Using Human Shields

In response to these allegations, Hamas has countered the claims of using civilians as human shields or of disguising military assets with civilians with a strong denial. The group claims it is safeguarding Gaza from Israeli aggression and disputing claims that its military operations are endangering civilians.

The law of armed conflict strictly forbids the forced displacement of civilians from occupied territories, except when necessary for security or imperative military reasons. However, the findings of HRW seem to go even further than this and create an environment in areas such as buffer zones and security corridors bordering permanent displacement.

The Humanitarian Cost of the Conflict

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which led to the latter’s invasion of Gaza, the humanitarian crisis there has skyrocketed. The attack killed close to 1,200 people, abducted over 250 Israeli hostages, and prompted Israel to start a military campaign against dismantling Hamas. Thus far, over 43,500 Palestinians have been killed, plus much of Gaza’s infrastructure.

The report highlighted by Human Rights Watch points out large-scale displacement, which has happened almost the whole of Gaza; indeed, tens of thousands are being moved away from their home in northern Gaza as Israeli forces target Hamas positions. According to the organization, these forcible displacements are not only worsening the humanitarian crisis but may also be part of a strategy to place Gaza’s demographic makeup permanently beyond recovery.

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International Concern and the Call for Accountability

While the international community remains divided about the ongoing war, the members of the global organization, however, would point to the fact that the human cost of war will be covered under the Constitution of the European Union. “Our actions are not to safeguard Hamas but to disarm them and bring security to our citizens.” Israel maintains that its operations are focused on disarming Hamas, while the rest of the world is demanding accountability, citing human costs and utter disregard for civilian lives.

Israeli officials have ruled out plans to create permanent buffer zones or permanently displace Palestinian civilians, indicating that Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the displaced of northern Gaza would be allowed to return after the war. However, the degree to which this displacement has brought lasting effects remains widely debated, and many refer to it as a kind of “ethnic cleansing.” Gazans increasingly appear to despair as the world searches for any opportunity to bring peace and hold people accountable, and the conflict prolongs itself.