Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing war crimes due to the extensive displacement of Palestinians, stating that the current scale of displacement has reached a level that qualifies as a war crime. Displaced Palestinians from northern Gaza echo these claims, reporting widespread destruction in their communities due to Israel’s six-week offensive.
Voices from the Ground: “Most of the Camp Was Destroyed”
Abu Raed, a former construction contractor displaced from Jabalia, describes the destruction as unprecedented. “The destruction before October 5, 2024, was significant, but what happened in the past month is beyond words,” he told Reuters via a chat app. “Most of Jabalia was destroyed, and Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya have hardly any buildings standing.”
According to Abu Raed, about 60 percent of the buildings and roads in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya are now in ruins. These areas, including Jabalia—one of Gaza’s largest refugee camps—were early targets of Israel’s ground offensive in response to an attack by Hamas in October 2023.
Israel’s Military Strategy and Local Impact
Israel’s military has conducted multiple incursions, describing these as essential to counter threats from militants in the region. On Thursday, Israel reported killing dozens of “terrorists” and seizing a significant amount of weaponry. However, Palestinian residents feel that Israel’s tactics have left areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun almost uninhabitable.
Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital near Beit Lahiya, spoke of the daily tragedies unfolding: “I’ve received distress calls from people trapped under the rubble, but I could do nothing for them,” he told Reuters. “The next day, their voices were gone … with their homes becoming their graves.”
Human Rights Watch’s Report: Forced Displacement and Possible “Ethnic Cleansing”
The recent Human Rights Watch report underscores the gravity of the situation, describing the forced displacement as “widespread, systematic, and part of a state policy” that could amount to crimes against humanity. The report suggests that the displacement is possibly intended to be permanent in buffer zones and security corridors, which Human Rights Watch warns could constitute “ethnic cleansing.”
Israel’s Response to Accusations
The Israeli military denies any intention to establish permanent buffer zones in northern Gaza. On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Palestinians displaced from these areas would be allowed to return once the conflict ends.
