KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians during the Gaza war, a charge Israeli leaders have consistently denied.
In a report published Thursday, the rights group alleged that Israel’s actions in the conflict amounted to genocide, citing widespread destruction and civilian deaths, Reuters reported.
Israel has rejected such accusations, asserting that its military operations comply with international law and are a legitimate response to Hamas’s cross-border attacks, including the October 7 assault that triggered the ongoing war.
Calls for international action
“The time has come for the international community to move on all fronts to question and hold the occupation country of Israel to account,” said Iyad Abu Mustafa, a resident of Khan Younis, as he attended a funeral in Al-Mawasi for victims of Israeli airstrikes.
Amid ongoing hostilities, Israeli tanks advanced into northern parts of Khan Younis on Wednesday, just a day after issuing evacuation orders. The Israeli military said the operations targeted areas from which rockets were launched by Palestinian militants.
Civilians bear the brunt
The incursion and accompanying airstrikes have exacted a devastating toll on Gaza’s civilian population. Palestinian medics reported at least 47 people killed in airstrikes across the enclave on Wednesday alone. Residents described intense shelling near residential areas, prompting families to flee westward to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.
The conflict, now stretching into its third month, has caused significant destruction in Gaza and raised international alarm about the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, continue to call for accountability and adherence to international law in the ongoing conflict.
