**Israel Accused of Genocide in Gaza**
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza by denying Palestinian civilians adequate access to water. The campaign group claims that this is a crime against humanity.
**Deliberate Damage to Water Infrastructure**
HRW says that Israel deliberately damaged water and sanitation infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants and a reservoir. The group also alleges that Israel blocked fuel for generators and cut off electricity. Repair workers were allegedly attacked, and the entry of repair materials into Gaza was blocked.
**Thousands Died from Dehydration and Diseases**
The report is based on interviews with Palestinians in Gaza, including officials from the water authority, sanitation experts, and healthcare workers. It also includes satellite imagery and data between October 2023 and September 2024. HRW’s executive director, Tirana Hassan, said that thousands of people died from dehydration and diseases due to Israel’s actions.
**Israel Rejects Claims**
The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the report as “propaganda.” A spokesman for the ministry said that HRW had spread “blood libels” and that the truth was completely opposite to their lies. The ministry claims that it has facilitated a continuous flow of water into Gaza and humanitarian aid despite attacks by Hamas.
**Genocide Convention Defined**
The Genocide Convention, passed after the Nazi Holocaust, defines genocide as acts committed in order to destroy, in full or in part, any national, ethnical or racial group. HRW says that Israel’s actions may indicate intent to commit genocide.
**International Court Examining Case**
The International Court of Justice is examining a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocidal acts. This is not the first time rights groups have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.