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Join on Telegram Doha – Two weeks after Amnesty International concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a comprehensive 179-page report accusing the country of committing “acts of genocide” by deliberately depriving Palestinians in Gaza of water access.
The report, released on Thursday, details systematic Israeli actions since October 2023 that have “deliberately obstructed Palestinians’ access to the adequate amount of water required for survival in the Gaza Strip,” according to HRW’s investigation based on interviews with over 115 people and satellite imagery analysis.
“What we have found is that the Israeli government is intentionally killing Palestinians in Gaza by denying them the water that they need to survive,” stated Lama Fakih, HRW Middle East director.
The investigation identified four deliberate Israeli strategies: blocking drinking water pipelines from Israel to Gaza, cutting electricity needed for water pumps, destroying solar panels at water facilities, and preventing repair attempts.
“The Israeli military then went in and bulldozed every single one of them in four of Gaza’s six wastewater treatment facilities, leaving nothing to chance,” said Bill Van Esveld, acting Israel and Palestine director at HRW.
The report revealed Palestinians in Gaza have access to only two to nine liters of water daily in many areas, far below the 15-liter survival threshold, leading to widespread disease and death. Satellite imagery showed 11 of Gaza’s 54 water reservoirs completely or largely destroyed, with 20 more damaged.
HRW cited statements by Israeli officials as evidence of intent, including then-defense minister Yoav Gallant’s October 2023 declaration: “No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed.”
Read also: Amnesty International: Israel Committing Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza
The devastating impact includes nearly 670,000 recorded cases of acute watery diarrhea and over 132,000 cases of jaundice. The report noted that childhood hepatitis A fatality rates have risen from 1% to 5-10% due to dehydration and malnutrition.
“This isn’t just negligence,” emphasized HRW executive director Tirana Hassan. “It is a calculated policy of deprivation that has led to the deaths of thousands from dehydration and disease that is nothing short of the crime against humanity of extermination, and an act of genocide.”
Médecins Sans Frontières also released a report Thursday noting “clear signs of ethnic cleansing” in Gaza. The organization’s secretary general, Christopher Lockyear, stated their medical teams have witnessed evidence “consistent with descriptions provided by an increasing number of legal experts and organizations concluding that genocide is taking place in Gaza.”
The Israeli government rejected these findings as “propaganda” and “blood libels,” claiming it has facilitated “continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The accusations come as the International Court of Justice continues examining South Africa’s case against Israel for alleged genocide, following provisional orders earlier this year for Israel to halt its offensive and prevent genocide being committed.
At least 45,129 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
