2023-10-12 19:14:00
The closure of Gaza’s only power plant will exacerbate an already pressing humanitarian crisis for more than 2.2 million people trapped in its territory, while Israel carries out a massive bombing campaign, resulting in at least one death. 1,350 people and more than 6,000 were injured.
The strikes are being launched in retaliation for the October 7 attack by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza by launching indiscriminate rockets and sending militants into southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and wounding more. of 2,700, while others, including numerous civilians, were taken hostage.
“Israeli authorities must immediately restore electricity supplies to Gaza and remove even greater restrictions imposed following the order issued by the Minister of Defense on October 9, 2023, as well as lift the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. that they imposed 16 years ago. The collective punishment to which the civilian population of Gaza is subjected constitutes a war crime and is cruel and inhumane. As an occupying power, Israel has a clear obligation under international law to ensure the basic needs of Gaza’s civilian population,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
The lack of electricity supply has plunged the Gaza Strip into darkness and only exacerbates the already existing humanitarian catastrophe. Communications will be even more limited, as will access to the Internet. The lack of electricity will severely impact essential services and access to clean water and cause a public health tragedy that will leave Gaza’s already decimated hospitals without vital medical equipment at a time when health professionals are struggling. for treating the thousands of people seriously injured as a result of the Israeli bombings. It will also endanger the lives of hospital patients, such as people who have chronic illnesses or those who need intensive care, including babies who require life-support equipment.
An Israeli minister said today that the country’s authorities will not restore the supply of electricity, water or fuel until Hamas releases its hostages. This explicitly confirms that these measures have been taken to punish the civilian population of Gaza for the actions of Palestinian armed groups. Amnesty reiterates that the Palestinian population is not responsible for the crimes of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups and that, in light of international law, Israel must not inflict suffering on them for acts in which it had no part and which are beyond its control. .
“The horrific mass murders of Israeli civilians and other serious violations do not exonerate Israel from its obligation to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. The collective punishment imposed on Gazan civilians will not bring justice to the victims of war crimes committed by Hamas and other armed groups nor will it guarantee security to the Israeli civilian population,” said Agnès Callamard.
Amnesty International is also concerned about repeated attacks on the Rafah border crossing. The organization calls on Israel to facilitate the establishment of humanitarian corridors that allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as the safe passage of wounded people and civilians wishing to flee the armed conflict. Likewise, it urges the international community to work towards an agreement on humanitarian corridors.
The Israeli authorities must refrain from unlawful attacks that cause civilian deaths or injuries and destroy homes and civilian infrastructure. They must also refrain from inciting violence against the Palestinian population in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and must ensure the safety of all civilians living under their control. All Palestinian armed groups in Gaza must release all their civilian hostages immediately and unconditionally.
Amnesty International is investigating Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, including the one launched against a residential building located in the Al Zeitoun neighborhood and in which 15 members of the same family were killed, including 7 minors (5 brothers and their 2 cousins). and his grandparents; the destruction of Burj Palestine, a skyscraper located in the Al Rimal neighborhood of Gaza; and the bombing of a busy street market located in the Yabalia refugee camp, in which at least 69 people died, including at least 15 children.
Amnesty International calls on Israel and Palestinian armed groups to take all possible precautions to protect civilians, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
This briefing is part of a series of articles by Amnesty International on the escalating violence and human rights violations taking place in Israel, Gaza and elsewhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Amnesty International has published its initial findings on war crimes committed by Hamas and Palestinian armed groups, including mass summary executions, hostage-taking and inherently indiscriminate rocket fire. As evidence continues to emerge of human rights violations committed in southern Israel, Amnesty International continues to investigate to determine all crimes under international law.
Additional information
Since 2007, Israel has imposed a land, sea and air blockade on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the collective punishment of its entire population. The current confrontation is, since then, the sixth largest military operation between Israel and armed groups in Gaza. On October 9, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a “complete siege against the Gaza Strip.” […] no electricity, no food, no water, no gas; everything is closed,” as part of the Israeli retaliation after the attack launched by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups that killed 1,200 people.
In June of this year, Amnesty International published a investigation on the May 2023 offensive on the Gaza Strip, determining that Israel had illegally destroyed Palestinian homes, often without a military need, which constitutes a form of collective punishment against the civilian population.
In the report it published in February 2022, Amnesty International explained that Israeli forces had committed acts in Gaza (as well as in the West Bank and Israel) prohibited by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Convention against Apartheid, as part of a systematic and widespread attack against civilians with the purpose of maintaining a system of oppression and domination over the Palestinian population, and which, therefore, constituted the crime against humanity of apartheid.
Previous Amnesty International reports on crimes and human rights violations committed in the context of the confrontation between Israel and Palestinian armed groups can be consulted here.
Amnesty International is an impartial human rights organization and aims to ensure that all parties to an armed conflict respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Thus, in future reports, Amnesty International will investigate Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip in order to determine whether it is complying with the standards of international humanitarian law, such as taking all necessary precautions to minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects, refrain from committing illegitimate attacks and apply collective punishment to the civilian population, as established by international law. Amnesty International will continue to monitor the activities of Hamas and Palestinian armed groups.
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