Human Rights Watch Labels Israel’s Deprivation of Water to Gaza an ‘Act of Genocide’

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has labeled Israel’s water deprivation in Gaza as an “act of genocide.”

The non-governmental organisation stated this in a report it released on Thursday.

The organisation stressed that under the Genocide Convention of 1948, Israel’s act of depriving Gaza of clean water—which has led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians—amounts to genocide.

“This policy, inflicted as part of a mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, means Israeli authorities have committed the crime against humanity of extermination, which is ongoing. This policy also amounts to an ‘act of genocide’ under the Genocide Convention of 1948,” the report stated in part.

The Middle East director of Human Rights Watch, Lama Fakih, pointed out that Israel’s actions are aimed at killing Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel, on the other hand, has refuted these claims, insisting that clean water has continually been made available to Gaza.

Also Read: Gaza war crime: US lawmakers wade in, ask Biden to cease weapon aid to Israel

Israel revealed that it had ensured over 1.2 million tons of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza through its crossings.

Israel’s foreign ministry, in a statement issued in response, described HRW’s claims as “lies.”

“Since the beginning of the war, Israel has facilitated the continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza, despite operating under constant attacks by the Hamas terror organization,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants weeks ago for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

While both deny the allegations, concerns continue to grow over Israel’s ongoing occupation of Gaza.

Israel has sustained its air and ground assault on Gaza, with death tolls running into the thousands.