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Unpunished Crimes and Silence that Encourages Genocide
In a statement issued today, Mwatana for Human Rights, marking the first anniversary of the brutal war in Gaza that began on October 7, 2023, denounced Israel’s continued violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law throughout the past year. These violations include some of the most egregious international crimes, such as crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes, carried out with complete impunity and in the face of international complicity.
Mwatana noted that, according to sources from the Palestinian Ministry of Health and Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Israeli forces' indiscriminate air and ground attacks, as well as the ground invasion of Gaza over the past year, have resulted in the deaths of at least 42612 people, including 16,891 children, 11,458 women, and 2,419 elderly. These attacks also injured no fewer than 102926 civilians, including 6,168 children. Additionally, at least 360000 residential units were damaged, of which 87,000 were completely destroyed. Throughout the year, at least 25,010 buildings were demolished. The Israeli forces consistently targeted civilian and protected sites, including hospitals, health centers, ambulances, medical teams, places of worship, schools, universities, humanitarian workers, journalists, and media institutions. According to estimates by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 34 hospitals in Gaza were completely rendered out of service during the year, while at least 25 others sustained damage from Israeli strikes. Moreover, at least 131 ambulances were targeted, as were 610 mosques and three churches. Israeli attacks also completely destroyed at least 122 schools and universities and partially damaged 334 others. In addition, the attacks killed at least 986 medical personnel, 174 journalists, and 203 UNRWA staff members. Among the targeted sites were locations designated by Israel as "safe zones," where civilians were advised to seek shelter from the ongoing military operations—only to have those same sites attacked later by Israeli forces.
Mwatana pointed out that these staggering numbers of casualties and damages, including women, children, the elderly, residential units, and protected sites and groups, clearly demonstrate Israel's failure to take even the minimal measures required to protect civilians and civilian objects. Israel has shown a complete disregard for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and its various rules. This clearly reflects the contempt of the Israeli forces, and the government behind them, for both customary and codified legal frameworks governing armed conflicts, as well as their obligations as an occupying power under international law. Mwatana emphasized that the continued indifference and irresponsible handling of Israeli actions by the international community and Israel's key supporters, particularly the United States, legitimizes the commission of genocide and other international crimes in various parts of the world. This negligence also threatens international peace, security, and the global legal order.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chair of Mwatana for Human Rights, stated: "The current situation and the continued Israeli violations in Gaza and the Middle East occur amid international complicity and encouragement, resulting in complete impunity due to the absence of real and effective accountability mechanisms. The way the international community engages with Israel in this conflict raises the question of whether impunity has become an international policy in addressing serious violations and the gravest international crimes, as well as the blatant breaches of international law, thereby exacerbating factors that undermine the security and stability of the region.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel added: "Justice cannot be absent forever, and the international community must assume its moral and legal responsibilities in standing against these ongoing violations and crimes. The international community and active states must cease their continuous support and encouragement of Israel, which makes it a partner in various crimes, and fulfill their obligations to put an end to all of Israel's crimes and irresponsible behaviors that could plunge the region into comprehensive conflict."
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, now marking its first anniversary, erupted on October 7, 2023, following a large-scale attack launched by Hamas and other Palestinian factions on the Gaza border region and the occupied Palestinian territories. According to the latest statistics published by Human Rights Watch via Agence France-Presse, approximately 815 civilians were killed in the attack, including 79 foreign nationals, with dozens taken hostage. In response, Israeli forces launched an unprecedented assault, carrying out hundreds of air and ground strikes targeting residential neighborhoods, protected sites, and infrastructure across the Gaza Strip. This was followed by a ground invasion by Israeli forces on October 27, 2023. The Israeli offensive in its various forms also led to partial or complete disruptions to water, electricity, and internet supplies at different times, and restricted or blocked the delivery of humanitarian aid, including essential goods such as food, fuel, and medical supplies. Various forms of oppression, starvation, repression, apartheid, forced displacement, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and other violations were also carried out.
Mwatana pointed out that in May 2024, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued requests for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, holding them criminally responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, on January 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its acceptance of a lawsuit filed by South Africa, accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza and calling for measures to prevent and stop the incitement of genocide in the Strip. In an advisory opinion issued on July 30, 2024, the ICJ declared that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, is illegal and that the State of Israel is obligated to end its illegal presence as soon as possible, immediately cease all settlement activities, and evacuate all settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The ICJ further stated that Israel is violating the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Both the ICJ's and ICC's efforts have been rejected by Israel and its supporting countries, and these efforts face significant obstacles, including attempts to thwart them. This includes threats made by U.S. lawmakers against ICC judges, Prosecutor Karim Khan, and their families, among other forms of pressure.
It is worth noting that the repercussions of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip did not stop at the operations and crimes carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. They extended to include Lebanon and Yemen, along with a wave of tensions between Iran and Israel, and sporadic operations by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group in Yemen targeting areas in the occupied territories and naval ships headed to Israel, as well as operations by the Prosperity Coalition led by the U.S. and the U.K. in Yemen.
Mwatana also pointed out that as part of the ongoing escalation, Israeli fighter jets launched two airstrikes on the port of Hodeidah on July 20, 2024, and September 26, 2024, targeting vital facilities in the city, including oil installations, fuel tanks, docks, cranes, and power stations. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 15 people, injuries to at least 137 others, and widespread destruction of the port's infrastructure and power stations. Additionally, Israeli fighter jets targeted various locations in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs, followed by a ground invasion of southern Lebanon on September 29, 2024, which led to the deaths of dozens of civilians, hundreds of injuries, and widespread displacement of the population in southern Lebanon, with the situation still ongoing.
In the statement, Mwatana said that the consequences of this Israeli war and its brutal crimes on the Gaza Strip, along with its repeated attacks on various locations in the region, particularly Lebanon and Yemen, risk plunging the region into an all-out war. This poses a real threat to the security and safety of the region and to international peace and security as a whole. Mwatana emphasized that the international community must take effective steps and make genuine efforts to put an end to all these crimes, behaviors, and their consequences.
Additionally, Mwatana for Human Rights called on the international community, including the United Nations, international agencies, activists, and human rights defenders, to act urgently and responsibly to stop the crimes of the Israeli forces, end the bloodshed and the destruction machine in the Gaza Strip and other areas, and support efforts related to accountability led by both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. This is essential to putting an end to the policy of impunity and pushing for the establishment of an international, independent investigation mechanism to investigate the violations and international crimes committed by Israel, ensuring accountability for the perpetrators, reparations for the victims, and justice for them.
Mwatana reiterated its call to the states supporting Israel, particularly the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, to immediately cease their irresponsible support for Israel, which emboldens it to continue its reckless behavior and brutal crimes. This support reflects the complicity of these states in Israel's ongoing crimes. Mwatana also renewed its appeal to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to continue their efforts to end the prevailing impunity and to take effective measures that would restore respect for international law and order, while promoting global justice and peace.
