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HRW says Israel commited 'acts of genocide' for Gaza water access

Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel on Thursday of committing "acts of genocide" in Gaza by intentionally damaging water infrastructure and depriving civilians of access to water. In a new report, HRW described these actions as part of a systematic effort by Israeli authorities to obstruct Palestinians' access to life-sustaining water since October 2023.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

"Human Rights Watch is once more spreading its blood libels in order to promote its anti-Israel propoganda," the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

The HRW report detailed what the group said was the intentional damaging of water and sanitation infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants, a reservoir and a spare parts warehouse, as well as the blocking of fuel for generators.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

Israel also cut electricity supplies, attacked repair workers and blocked the importation of repair materials, it said.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

The report concluded that in doing so, "Israeli authorities intentionally inflicted on the Palestinian population in Gaza 'conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.'"

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

This, it said, amounted to the war crime of "extermination" and to "acts of genocide".

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

- 'MALNOURISHED AND DEHYDRATED' -

The HRW report, drawn up over nearly a year, is based on interviews with dozens of Gazans, staff at water and sanitation facilities, medics and aid workers, as well as satellite imagery, photographs, videos and data analysis.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

It said Israeli authorities did not reply to requests for information.

The lack of water left Gazans vulnerable to water-borne diseases and complications, such as infected wounds and the inability to heal due to dehydration, HRW said.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

Deaths from such cases "are likely vastly underreported", the report said.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

Doctors and nurses told HRW "that many of their patients have died from preventable diseases and infections, and healable wounds, due to dehydration and the unavailability of water".

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

One emergency room nurse cited in the report said they were forced to decide "not to resuscitate children who were severely malnourished and dehydrated".

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

The rights group called on the international community to "take all measures within their power to prevent genocide by Israeli authorities in Gaza".

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

That included "discontinuing any military assistance and arms sales or transfers, imposing targeted sanctions, and reviewing bilateral deals and diplomatic relations".

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access

Since October 2023, Israel's attacks in Gaza have killed over 45,000 people and left most of the enclave an unlivable ruin, with survivors on the brink of starvation.

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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access
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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access
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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access
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HRW says Israel commited acts of genocide for Gaza water access