Human Rights Watch Alert: “The blockade has become an extermination tool”

Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the Israeli government of planning an “abject escalation” of its crimes in Gaza on Thursday 15. The international NGO claims that a government project aims to “demolish what remains of civil infrastructure” and to bring together the 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in a tiny “humanitarian zone”.

“Hearing Israeli officials boast of their intention to make Gaza uninhabitable should trigger the maximum alert in Western capitals,” said Federico Borello, acting executive director of HRW. According to him, the blockade imposed for 75 days “has become an extermination tool”.

The plan, nicknamed “Gideon carts”, could be launched after President Trump’s visit scheduled for May 16. It would include the forced displacement of the population and the military occupation of the territory. HRW calls for states Parties to the Convention on Genocide to immediately end the sales of arms in Israel, to suspend military assistance and to reassess bilateral agreements.

The humanitarian situation is considered catastrophic. The World Health Organization has alerted to “one of the worst world hunger crises”, while the IPC warns of an imminent risk of famine. Since the beginning of March, food aid remains blocked despite the existence of 171,000 tonnes of food available in the region. Over 95 % of NGOs suspended their operations.

Israel justifies the blockade by the detention of Israeli hostages, 23 of which would still be alive. HRW also condemns the detention of civilians by Palestinian armed groups and calls for their immediate release.

The NGO recalls that the International Court of Justice has already ordered provisional measures within the framework of the complaint filed by South Africa. All have been ignored by Israel, said HRW, who now calls for the suspension of the UE-Israel and United Israel trade agreements.