UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (WSH) —The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Friday expressed alarm over Israel’s apparent plan to permanently displace civilians in Gaza through the expansion of a so-called buffer zone, amid ongoing evacuation orders and intensified bombardments.
Escalating Crisis and Humanitarian Collapse
Hostilities in the Gaza Strip resumed in mid-March after the breakdown of the ceasefire and Israel’s closure of border crossings. As the conflict enters its sixth week, more than 2.1 million Gazans remain trapped with limited access to food, drinking water, and essential services.
In recent weeks, Israel has escalated attacks on civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings and camps, resulting in numerous casualties and many civilians missing under the rubble. Between March 18 and April 9 alone, Israeli forces targeted housing and tents for internally displaced persons (IDPs) 224 times across 36 separate strikes, OHCHR reported.
Grave Concerns Over ‘Forcible Transfer’
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani warned that although temporary civilian evacuations can be lawful under strict conditions, “the nature and scope of the evacuation orders raises serious concerns that Israel intends permanently to remove the civilian population from these areas in order to create a so-called buffer zone.”
She emphasized that forcibly displacing civilians within occupied territory constitutes a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and amounts to a crime against humanity.
Ms. Shamdasani also noted the alarming increase in attacks on journalists, reporting that at least 209 media workers have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas-led terror attacks of October 2023. Israel continues to deny international media access to the Gaza Strip.
Potential War Crimes and Violations of International Law
Combatants must adhere to the laws of war, specifically the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
“Intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities constitutes a war crime, further compounding the desperate conditions for Palestinian civilians,” Ms. Shamdasani said.
OHCHR reiterated that collective punishment and using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare are crimes under international law. The office also voiced deep concern that Israel’s actions may be creating conditions “incompatible with Palestinians’ continued existence as a group” in Gaza.
Humanitarian Supplies Blocked, Medical System Strained
Stocks of medicine and essential supplies have sharply declined, with shipments piling up at closed border crossings. According to Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for the West Bank and Gaza, nearly 36 million tons of supplies are currently stockpiled in Dubai awaiting clearance to enter Gaza.
Medical evacuations have slowed dramatically, and the number of international emergency medical teams on the ground has dropped, straining already overwhelmed hospitals.
“We urgently call for the immediate resumption of medical evacuations through all possible routes, particularly restoring the medical referral pathway to the West Bank and Jerusalem,” Dr. Peeperkorn urged.
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