In a new report, released on Thursday and focusing specifically on the water supply in Gaza, HRW states that the denial of sufficient water supply has been ongoing since October 2023.
According to the organization, it has "with the highest probability" resulted in thousands of deaths. This means that Israel is guilty of crimes against humanity through extermination, as well as acts that meet the definition of one of the five "genocidal acts" in the 1948 Geneva Convention, writes HRW.
"Water is essential for human life, yet the Israeli government has deliberately denied Palestinians in Gaza the absolute minimum they need to survive for over a year", says HRW's chief Tirana Hassan in a press release.
Infected Wounds
The lack of water for sanitation purposes, as well as destroyed sanitation infrastructure, has led to outbreaks of skin diseases and skin infections, including rashes, scabies, and lice, in addition to diarrhea diseases and hepatitis A, writes HRW. People living in refugee camps often live in extremely cramped conditions, which has further exacerbated the spread of diseases.
The report states that the lack of water has likely caused or contributed to hundreds of thousands of people contracting various diseases or health conditions.
A doctor at an international organization tells HRW that the lack of clean water and sanitation in healthcare facilities increases the risk of dying from infected wounds. He and other healthcare professionals tell HRW about patients with larvae in their wounds due to being unable to maintain cleanliness.
"This would never happen with proper sanitation and sterilization", says the doctor in the report.
"Full of Lies"
Proving genocide requires, according to international law, that it can be proven that there is intent to commit genocide. Israel's water policy in Gaza, together with several statements from Israeli ministers, can, according to HRW, suggest that Israel has such an intent. However, the organization does not go so far as to conclude that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel responds to the report, stating that HRW is trying to "promote its anti-Israeli propaganda".
"This report is full of lies that are frightening even compared to HRW's already low standards", writes the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
HRW's report is based on, among other things, interviews, analysis of satellite images, photos, videos, data collected by doctors and aid organizations, and expert opinions.
