Elham Asaad Buaras
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has, on December 19, released a damning report accusing Israel of committing “acts of genocide” in Gaza by deliberately depriving Palestinian civilians of adequate access to water.
The organization claims that Israeli actions, including intentional damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, have likely caused thousands of deaths and amount to “committing the crime against humanity of extermination.”
“This isn’t just negligence,” said 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.”
The 179-page report alleges that since October 2023, Israeli authorities have obstructed Palestinians’ access to the minimum water supply required for survival. Citing interviews with Gaza residents, water authority officials, sanitation experts, and healthcare workers, as well as satellite imagery and data,
HRW details damage to vital infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants, reservoirs, and warehouses storing repair parts. The group also claims Israel blocked the entry of fuel for generators, attacked repair workers, and restricted access to repair materials.
Israel has strongly rejected HRW’s accusations, calling the report “propaganda.” On X, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein dismissed the claims, accusing HRW of spreading “blood libels.”
HRW’s report is the latest in a series of accusations from rights groups and international bodies alleging genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently reviewing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The Genocide Convention defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” HRW suggests its findings, alongside statements from Israeli officials, “may indicate such intent.”
Since the beginning of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports at least 45,129 deaths. While the exact toll from water deprivation and related causes remains unquantified, HRW claims these deaths are a direct result of Israel’s actions.
Israel maintains it is targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure, denying intentional harm to civilians. The government has dismissed allegations of genocide as “wholly unfounded” and rooted in antisemitism.
The HRW report adds to the intensifying global scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza, sparking fierce debate over accountability, intent, and the toll on Palestinian civilians.
Photo: Palestinians returning to Khan Younis following the withdrawal of Israeli forces on May 6, 2024, transport water containers to meet their essential needs amidst catastrophic conditions. (Credit: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency)
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