According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including thousands of civilians and over 4,500 children. The conflict has also displaced more than 1.5 million people, creating a dire humanitarian situation in the region.

Israeli authorities have reportedly exacerbated the crisis by cutting off essential services such as electricity, water, fuel, and food into Gaza. This further compounds the already challenging circumstances resulting from israel’s 16-year unlawful closure of the strip.

In the West Bank, zionist forces and settlers have allegedly killed 169 Palestinians as of November 11, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In response to the ongoing crisis, HRW is calling on key allies of israel, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, to suspend military assistance and arms sales to israel. The organization highlights that under international humanitarian law, all parties involved in the conflict are obligated to distinguish between combatants and civilians, targeting only the former.

HRW notes, “Individuals who commit serious violations of the laws of war with criminal intent—that is, intentionally or recklessly—may be prosecuted for war crimes.” The organization emphasizes that governments involved in an armed conflict are obligated to investigate alleged war crimes by members of their armed forces.

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, criticized Israeli authorities for their failure to credibly investigate their own serious abuses, even when acknowledgment is made. Kaiss urged israel's allies to demand accountability for the apparent violations of the laws of war and what HRW describes as an "apparent war crime."

The escalating situation in Gaza and the West Bank underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent further loss of life. (ILKHA)