Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Israel of committing acts of genocide and extermination in Gaza by denying access to clean water, a policy the organization claims has killed thousands of Palestinians. In a report released Thursday, HRW asserted that the deprivation of water constitutes a crime against humanity and violates the 1948 Genocide Convention.
"This policy, inflicted as part of a mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, means Israeli authorities have committed the crime against humanity of extermination, which is ongoing," the report stated. HRW also highlighted statements by some senior Israeli officials, suggesting an intent to "destroy Palestinians," which it argued could support the claim of genocide.
The Israeli government has firmly rejected these accusations. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Israel's foreign ministry said: "The truth is the complete opposite of HRW's lies. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has facilitated the continuous flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza, despite operating under constant attacks of Hamas terror organization."
According to HRW, the Israeli government cut off water supplies, electricity, and fuel to Gaza, crippling local water and sanitation facilities. Many areas in the enclave, home to 2.3 million people, now have access to only a few liters of water daily—far below the survival threshold of 15 liters per person per day.
Israel has countered these claims by stating that it has ensured water infrastructure remains operational and has facilitated the entry of over 1.2 million tons of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. It also emphasized that international partners have been allowed to transport water tankers through Israeli crossings.
The report follows similar allegations by Amnesty International, which last month also accused Israel of genocide. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, charges they have denied.
HRW's findings come in the context of a devastating conflict that began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of over 250 hostages to Gaza. Israel's military response has since killed over 45,000 Palestinians, displaced millions, and left much of Gaza in ruins.
The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group." Establishing intent, however, remains a significant legal hurdle, as noted in the HRW report.