B'Tselem NGO says Israeli actions in Gaza amount to 'war crimes'

By Abdelraouf Arnout

JERUSALEM (AA) – A Jerusalem-based non-profit organization has branded Israeli actions in Gaza since the weekend's surprise incursion by Palestinian group Hamas as war crimes.

Karim Jabran, spokesperson of B’Tselem, which documents human rights violations in occupied Palestinian territory, told Anadolu that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant's explicit declaration to cut off water, electricity, fuel, and essential supplies to Gaza amounts to "perpetrating a full-fledged war crime."

He said Gaza consistently relies on daily supplies, and blocking humanitarian aid, medical, water, and electricity assistance to those facing bombardment is another form of homicide and extermination.

Jabran said there is widespread displacement in Gaza, with no shelters and no way to seek cover from airstrikes.

The spokesperson said "one crime can never legitimize another; despite the condemnation of the incident, it does not give Israel the green light to commit war crimes against innocent citizens in Gaza."

In an earlier statement, the NGO said a "criminal policy of revenge" was underway in Gaza, and there is "no justification for these actions, which constitute war crimes openly ordered by top Israeli officials."

"Even in the face of horror and terror – intentionally harming civilians, their property and civilian infrastructure is always prohibited," it said, adding that contrary to what Israeli ministers are implying, "this policy is not new, but has been implemented towards Gaza for many years."

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the attack was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.