Israel Accused of Weaponizing Humanitarian Measures in Gaza War
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A new report from Forensic Architecture, a research group at Goldsmiths, University of London, accuses Israel of "weaponizing" humanitarian measures in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing war, resulting in widespread displacement and "genocidal acts" against Palestinians.
The report, published on Wednesday, accuses the Israeli military of weaponizing humanitarian measures like evacuation orders and safe zones to push civilians into areas of active military operations.
Instead of safeguarding civilian lives, these measures have facilitated forced transfers and mass displacement, contributing to civilian casualties throughout Gaza, the report says.
"Rather than 'humanitarian acts' used as preventative measures for the safeguarding of civilian life, Israel has exercised a form of 'humanitarian violence,' in concert with and in support of its broader genocidal actions," the report stated.
It highlighted the inconsistencies and confusion caused by these measures, leading to Israel's bombardment of designated safe zones in Gaza.
The report noted that more than 30,000 Palestinians have died, over 70 percent of them women and children, with thousands missing and tens of thousands more wounded, as a result of these actions.
It also highlighted the destruction of infrastructure and vital civilian structures, including hospitals, schools, and homes.
Despite an interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel over the Gaza genocide in January, the report says that Israel continues to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homes and deny them essential supplies, violating the court's directive.
The war began on October 7 when the Palestinian resistance forces launched an operation against Israel in response to decades-long campaigns of violence. Since then, Israel has killed at least 31,000 Palestinians and injured over 72,000 others.
The Israeli regime has imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.
