New accusations, two weeks after those of Amnesty International. In a new investigation, the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) affirmed, Thursday, December 19, that the Israeli authorities “deliberately imposed living conditions calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the population” in the Gaza Strip, “by intentionally depriving Palestinian civilians of adequate access to water.” “In doing so, the Israeli authorities are responsible for the crime against humanity of extermination and acts of genocide,” accuses the international human rights organization.
“This type of behavior, coupled with statements suggesting that some Israeli officials wanted to destroy Palestinians in Gaza, can amount to the crime of genocide.”
Human Rights Watchin a press release
For this 184-page investigation, Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 60 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and around thirty health professionals, as well as people working for the UN and other humanitarian organizations in the Palestinian enclave. . It was also based, among other things, on data from specialists in issues related to water and sanitation.
The NGO recalls that after the terrorist attack launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023 in Israel, the authorities of the Hebrew State “cut off water and prevented fuel, food and humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip.” These same authorities “continue to restrict the entry of water, fuel, food and aid” in the Palestinian enclave, “and cut off the electricity”, continues the organization.
HRW adds that Tel Aviv also prohibits the arrival “almost all water-related aid”, such as tanks and filtration systems, or even materials for infrastructure repair. The report further claims that Israeli forces “deliberately attacked, and thereby damaged or destroyed” several installations “major” water, sanitation and hygiene in Gaza.
In almost a year of war, from October 2023 to September 2024, the measures decided by Israel have “deprive the majority” Gazans from a “access to the minimum quantity of water” daily recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), denounces Human Rights Watch. The UN health agency (PDF) estimates that everyone must have access, every day, to between 50 and 100 liters of water to meet their needs.
“For many residents in Gaza, much, if not all, of the water they have had access to is unsafe to drink.”
Human Rights Watchin a report
For the NGO, it is “probable” that hunger, dehydration and diseases – particularly transmitted by water – caused the death of “thousands of Palestinians” in the Gaza Strip since the start of Israeli retaliation in the enclave, in addition to the already known toll of the conflict in the Palestinian enclave, which exceeded 45,000 deaths, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health. Impeded access to clean drinking water has also led to the spread of diseases and health problems for “hundreds of thousands of people”, particularly diarrhea or hepatitis A.
According to Human Rights Watch, Israeli authorities did not respond to two requests from the NGO regarding attacks on water and sanitation facilities.
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