The UN Human Rights Office has accused Israel of violating international law by forcibly displacing Palestinians in Gaza under “mandatory evacuation orders” — 10 since March 18 — Reuters reports.
“These evacuations fail to comply with the requirements of international humanitarian law,” UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.
“Israel is not taking any measures to provide accommodation for the evacuated population, nor ensure that these evacuations are conducted in satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition,” Al-Kheetan’s statement added.
More than half of northern Gaza appeared to be under such orders, it said, while those who had been newly displaced from the south of the enclave in the Rafah area and forced to go to coastal Al Mawasi were not guaranteed safety there.
“We are deeply concerned about the shrinking space for civilians in Gaza who are being forcibly displaced by the Israeli army from large swathes of territory,” it added.
Israel’s permanent mission to Geneva told Reuters that it was operating in accordance with international humanitarian law.
