LONDON, May 7, 2025 (WAFA) – The forcible displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip constitutes a crime against humanity, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.
“Any move by Israel to displace Palestinians to the south of the Gaza Strip and confine them into so-called “closed bubbles” or continue to impose inhumane conditions of life to push Palestinians out of Gaza, would amount to the war crime of unlawful transfer or deportation. If these actions are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population, they would also constitute crimes against humanity,” Amnesty International said in a press statement.
It added that “Israel has continued to commit genocidal acts, fully aware of the irreversible harm being inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza.”
“After imposing two months of full siege on Gaza, Israel’s declared intentions to expand its already devastating military offensive, further entrench its unlawful occupation of the Gaza Strip, and forcibly displace Palestinians could inflict a final blow leading to the destruction of Palestinians in Gaza, who for months on end have been struggling to survive amid Israel’s ongoing genocide,” said Erika Guevara Rosas Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy, and Campaigns at Amnesty International.
The organization pointed out that “since October 2023, the world has witnessed repeated waves of forced displacement of Palestinians within Gaza under inhumane conditions. The manner in which these waves of displacement have been implemented has been key to Israel’s inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. At the moment, nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip is under “evacuation orders” or designated as no-go zones.”
It also noted that “Israel’s new plans indicate the authorities are planning a horrifying escalation by seizing territory, establishing a ‘sustained physical presence’ there and indefinitely displacing the majority of the population.”
“These plans demonstrate Israel’s utter disregard for international law and its contempt for the rights of Palestinians,” Erika Guevara Rosas said.
Erika Guevara Rosas affirmed that “Any attempts to weaponize humanitarian aid, use it to coerce forced displacement, or establish discriminatory aid distribution zones would violate international law and must be rejected.”
She urged the international community to “unequivocally reject these dangerous plans and pressure Israel to comply with its obligations under international law and ensure unhindered humanitarian aid access throughout Gaza.”
“Instead of pursuing policies that lead to further forced displacement and potentially to illegal annexation, Israel must immediately stop its genocide in Gaza, end its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory, in line with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of July 2024, and dismantle its system of apartheid against Palestinians,” she concluded.
K.F.
