Israel has carried out countless war crmes in the Gaza Strip during its 15-month long war, including the bombardment of hospitals and shelters [Getty/file photo]
Human Rights Watch on Thursday called for punishment for the “heinous crimes” committed “on and since October 7, 2023,” in the Gaza Strip, after the announcement of a fragile ceasefire deal in the conflict.
“While yesterday Israeli officials and Hamas agreed to a multi-phase ceasefire, the heinous crimes committed on and since October 7, 2023, should not go unpunished,” said HRW chief Tirana Hassan.
Hassan was speaking at a press conference to launch the organisation’s annual report, in which it called out Israel for committing “crimes against humanity” and a “genocide” during the Gaza war.
Qatar and the United States on Wednesday announced the ceasefire deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas, which will bring an end to the 15-month long conflict that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians and devastated the territory, including its fragile healthcare system.
But Israeli air strikes have continued on the Gaza Strip, killing scores since the ceasefire was announced.
“Whilst the ceasefire will bring some relief for the millions of displaced inside Gaza, it won’t be a solution in and of itself,” said Hassan.
At least 1.9 million people – or 90 percent of Gaza’s population – have been displaced by Israel’s offensive in the territory, according to UN estimates.
An estimated 345,000 people in Gaza face “catastrophic levels” of food insecurity, the UN says.
“What will be required moving forward is humanitarian access, and that by that, we’re talking about the Israeli authorities, allowing materials in to rebuild the infrastructure, including the water infrastructure and the health system, which has been decimated during this conflict, as well as humanitarian relief,” Hassan said.
Much of Gaza has been levelled by Israel’s punishing assault on the Palestinian territory, which has killed 46,788 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.
The war was triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people.
Israel’s cabinet has yet to approve the ceasefire agreement, which is due to be implemented from Sunday.
