Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli authorities of forcibly displacing Palestinians in Gaza, which they believe amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. This displacement is said to be systematic and part of a state policy, constituting crimes against humanity. Israeli authorities have denied these accusations, stating that their actions are in compliance with international law. Since the invasion of Gaza last year, thousands of people have been killed and displaced, causing a dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Israeli forces have been moving tens of thousands of people from areas in the north of Gaza, claiming it is necessary to destroy Hamas forces reorganizing in those areas. Human Rights Watch believes this displacement is planned to be permanent in buffer zones and security corridors, which they consider to be ethnic cleansing. However, the Israeli military denies seeking to create permanent buffer zones and has promised that Palestinians displaced from their homes in northern Gaza will be allowed to return at the end of the war.
The international community has raised concerns about the situation in Gaza, with numerous aid groups and bodies warning about the dire conditions faced by the population. The forced displacement of civilians from occupied territories is considered a violation of the law of armed conflict, unless done for the security of civilians or imperative military reasons. The situation in Gaza remains a point of contention and concern for human rights organizations and the international community.
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