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 have been 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.
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.