The displacement of more than a million people in the middle of what is already a dire humanitarian crisis would be a massive crime in itself.
The Israeli government is demanding that Palestinian civilians evacuate Gaza city. The U.N. and humanitarian agencies say that this is an impossible demand, and some say it is also unlawful:
The Norwegian Refugee Council, an international aid agency operating in the territory, said the evacuation order, which came without clear guarantees of safety and return, “would amount to the war crime of forcible transfer.”
Nancy Okail, president of the Washington-based Center for International Policy, described the evacuation order as not only impossible, but “a license to kill. Because those who remain behind, it would be sort of a warranty to kill those who stay.”
There is no way that a million people can safely evacuate their homes under current conditions. As Jan Egeland of the NRC said in the group’s statement, “My colleagues inside Gaza confirm that there are countless people in the northern parts who have no means to safely relocate under the constant barrage of fire.” Even if they managed to do this, where would they go and how would they survive once they left? There is nowhere for these people to go. The displacement of more than a million people in the middle of what is already a dire humanitarian crisis would be a massive crime in itself. That is to say nothing of the collective punishment already being meted out to the entire population by cutting off access to supplies of food, water, fuel, and power.
The U.N. is warning of “devastating humanitarian consequences” if the order is not rescinded. Human Rights Watch says, “The roads are rubble, fuel is scarce, and the main hospital is in the evacuation zone.” Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International, said, “This is a logistical impossibility. It would not be lawful for the UN to do this. Israel asking the UN to do this does not magically make what follows not-a-war-crime. US needs to urgently intervene here.”
Evacuate to where?
This is a prelude to a major invasion of Gaza and the closing of the book on Palestine. The Israeli government of bibi Netanyahu does not believe in a right of return of Palestinians nor a two state solution.
There in the background lurks the evil one, a root of all mayhem…….the “exceptional” USA.
This is what genocide looks like. There is no other way around this fact. This is no longer simply an apartheid state. Gaza is being turned into a death camp.
Bullscat, warning and allowing time for civilians to exit is civilized. No warning and murdering civilians as Hamas has recently done is UNcivilized and demands harsh punishment.
The Palestinian Arab organizations have been warning and allowing time, at various points, for all civilians to exit Israel since 1948. Does their failure to leave constitute cause to kill them?
The PA does not have the authority or justification to issue meaningless demands.
And, in any event, wanton, wholesale, indiscriminate murder cancels all of their rhetoric.
In other words, one moral standard for the murderous gang you support, another for the murderous gang you oppose. No surprise there.
Did you read the article?
There is no way that a million people can safely evacuate their homes under current conditions. As Jan Egeland of the NRC said in the group’s statement, “My colleagues inside Gaza confirm that there are countless people in the northern parts who have no means to safely relocate under the constant barrage of fire.” Even if they managed to do this, where would they go and how would they survive once they left? There is nowhere for these people to go. The displacement of more than a million people in the middle of what is already a dire humanitarian crisis would be a massive crime in itself. That is to say nothing of the collective punishment already being meted out to the entire population by cutting off access to supplies of food, water, fuel, and power.
Miss this part?
Israel has divided Gaza into three zones, north, central and south. Notice and plenty of time offered by Israel for civilians
(in spite of Hamas’s attempts to make them STAY!)
to leave the northern sector for refugee in the other two.
If you are saying “war is hell”, I agree, the answer being, don’t start one.
Sounds great. In real life, it isn’t. We’re talking about 1 million people moving whilst under less than ideal conditions. And you once again condone mass punishment. The majority of these people didn’t start anything.
Israel just turned the water back on, you once again ignore mass murder, none of those people started anything.
I didn’t ignore anything. When did I condone what Hamas did?
You didn’t “condone” it, you just ignore it.
No. I didn’t. The fact that I’m not cheerleading the anticipated response is what you must be basing that on. Read my comments. Not once did I agree with Hamas attacking Israel.
Would you say the USA’s wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Southeast Asia and other places were civilized if it said civilians should evacuate the places in which they lived? Would you say Russia and Ukraine should evacuate their people so the war between the two countries can continue uninterrupted?
I would say nothing you referred to even begins to compare against the berserker, butchery of babies, woman and elderly in the Hamas sneak attack.
There are horrendous atrocities that occur in war as collateral damage, but Hamas’ deliberate, intended, goal was pure primeval, slaughter of those unarmed.
You should be ashamed to even attempt such ridiculous equivocation.
But at least you are one of the few honest one here.