Justice Nexus

Alleged Israeli War Crimes in Gaza: An Intelligence Brief

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Executive Summary

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have resulted in extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure and heavy Palestinian casualties. Multiple independent inquiries—including the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (IICI) and reports from Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International—have documented potential war crimes by Israeli forces. Key findings include:

  • Use of starvation as a method of warfare: Blockades and targeting of food depots and bakeries have contributed to mass hunger and malnutrition. (en.wikipedia.org, amnesty.org)
  • Indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilians: Airstrikes and artillery fire on densely populated areas—resulting in civilian death tolls exceeding 54,000 (primarily women and children)—raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law. (theguardian.com, hrw.org)
  • Destruction of medical facilities and denial of medical access: The forcible evacuation and damage to hospitals, including Al-Awda Hospital—the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza—have hindered life-saving care. (theguardian.com, aljazeera.com)
  • Forced displacement and destruction of homes: Evacuation orders for entire neighborhoods and demolition of civilian homes have compounded the humanitarian crisis and may constitute forcible transfer. (hrw.org, ohchr.org)
  • Sexual and gender-based violence: UN Human Rights Council investigations report systematic use of sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians, including forced nudity, threats of rape, and assaults. (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)

These findings suggest a pattern of conduct that may amount to war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Continued lack of accountability, coupled with expanding settlement activity and blockade measures, exacerbates the humanitarian crisis and undermines prospects for peace.

Background

The Israeli–Hamas conflict reignited on October 7, 2023, with the Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel. Israel’s subsequent counteroffensive in Gaza, named “Operation Iron Shield,” aimed to degrade Hamas’s military capabilities. However, the scale and intensity of Israel’s response have drawn widespread international condemnation. By May 2025, Gaza faced its longest blockade, restricted humanitarian access, and recurrent bombardments. Nor­way’s Development Minister labeled Israel’s actions as violations of international human rights law, warning they set a dangerous precedent. (theguardian.com, en.wikipedia.org)

Over 2.1 million Gazans face critical risk of famine due to blockade and destruction of aid infrastructure. The humanitarian situation deteriorated further following Israeli evacuation orders for entire northern Gaza neighborhoods, displacing hundreds of thousands into overcrowded southern areas. (theguardian.com, theguardian.com)

International bodies—including the IICI and various NGOs—have documented extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, water facilities, and electricity networks. The IICI’s March 2025 report submitted over 7,000 pieces of evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli authorities for war crimes and crimes against humanity, notably “starvation as a method of warfare” and “directed attacks against civilians.” (en.wikipedia.org, un.org)

Methodology

This brief synthesizes open-source reporting and independent investigations from November 2023 through June 2025, relying on:

  • United Nations Reports
    • IICI findings (A/HRC/58/CRP.6): Documenting war crimes including starvation, intentional attacks on medical facilities, and sexual violence. (en.wikipedia.org, un.org)
    • UN Human Rights Office briefings on Gaza casualty figures: Confirming over 54,000 deaths and 104,000 wounded. (theguardian.com, hrw.org)
  • NGO Documentation
    • Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report 2025: Cataloguing killings, starvation tactics, forced displacement, and destruction of civilian objects at an unprecedented scale. (hrw.org)
    • Amnesty International analysis: Branding Israel’s blockade and siege as “genocidal intent,” with details on starvation and civilian targeting. (amnesty.org)
  • Media Investigations
    • The Guardian and Al Jazeera documentaries: Providing video evidence of soldiers purposefully destroying civilian infrastructure and medical facilities. (aljazeera.com, theguardian.com)
    • Press releases from OHCHR: Describing evidence of forced displacements, starvation, and attacks on protected persons. (ohchr.org, un.org)
  • Local Health Ministry Data
    • Gaza Ministry of Health casualty reports (November 2024): Indicating over 44,000 killed and 104,000 wounded since October 2023. (hrw.org)

Cross-referencing these sources ensures robust corroboration of allegations and provides a comprehensive vantage on the scope, tactics, and impact of the alleged violations.

Findings

1. Starvation as a Method of Warfare

  • Blockade Enforcement: Israel’s tightening of land, sea, and air crossings—particularly the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings—has severely restricted food, fuel, and medical supplies entering Gaza. Reports from Amnesty International and UN experts conclude that approximately 90 percent of Gazan households experience moderate to severe food insecurity. (amnesty.org, ohchr.org)
  • Targeting of Food Infrastructure: HRW and IICI reports document repeated Israeli strikes on bakeries, food warehouses, and UN World Food Programme (WFP) storage sites. In March 2025, an airstrike on a WFP warehouse in central Gaza destroyed over 3,600 tons of flour, directly affecting food distribution. (amnesty.org, hrw.org)
  • Evidence of Deliberate Denial: The IICI’s investigation (A/HRC/58/CRP.6) highlights intercepted Israeli military communications acknowledging the lack of feasible routes for aid convoys. Combined with public refusal to open Kerem Shalom crossing for extended periods, this suggests intent to impose collective punishment. (en.wikipedia.org, un.org)

2. Indiscriminate or Disproportionate Attacks on Civilians

  • Civilian Casualty Figures: As of May 30, 2025, more than 54,000 Palestinians—over 70 percent of whom are women and children—have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Densely populated neighborhoods, such as Bureij and Jabalia, suffered multiple repeated strikes causing collapse of residential buildings. (theguardian.com, hrw.org)
  • High-Risk Warnings Ignored: The UN Secretary-General and numerous diplomatic missions issued evacuation advisories for northern Gaza; yet the speed and scale of bombardment outpaced safe relocation, leading to high civilian casualties. In May 2025, evacuation orders covering over 1 million residents were issued with as little as hours’ notice. (theguardian.com)
  • Destruction of Civilian Objects: Satellite imagery footages from PlanetScope confirm the leveling of entire residential blocks without apparent military targets. Al Jazeera’s investigation showcases video evidence of Israeli bulldozers demolishing undamaged civilian homes, potentially violating the principle of distinction. (aljazeera.com, theguardian.com)

3. Attacks on Medical Facilities and Personnel

  • Hospital Sieges and Evacuations: In late May 2025, Israeli forces ordered the evacuation of Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza—the sole remaining operational hospital in that region—forcing patients, including critical care and pediatric wards, onto crowded streets. Videos show the hospital’s power generator destroyed by tank fire, rendering lifesaving equipment inoperable. (theguardian.com, aljazeera.com)
  • Repeated Strikes on Clinics: IICI data (A/HRC/58/CRP.6) documents 47 verified incidents of Israeli strikes on medical facilities between October 2023 and March 2025. These include UNRWA-run clinics and Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances struck while in transit, resulting in at least 58 medical personnel killed. (en.wikipedia.org, hrw.org)
  • Denial of Medical Access: Checkpoint closures and restrictions on fuel for ambulances prolonged transport times. WHO reports indicate that 40 percent of ambulances in Gaza are non-functional due to fuel shortages or damage to roads caused by bombardment. (amnesty.org, theguardian.com)

4. Forced Displacement and Demolition of Homes

  • Evacuation Orders: Israeli military directives in May 2025 declared entire areas of northern Gaza as “combat zones,” ordering civilians to move south under threat of being deemed terrorists if they remain. These evacuation zones encompassed 30 percent of Gaza’s land area, displacing roughly 1.2 million people into overcrowded camps. (theguardian.com, hrw.org)
  • Home Demolitions: UN Satellite analysis and NGO reports confirm that over 100,000 homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable between October 2023 and April 2025, disproportionately affecting civilian shelters. This mass demolition has been characterized as forcible transfer, contravening Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. (hrw.org, ohchr.org)

5. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

  • Systematic Use of Sexual Violence: The March 13, 2025 UN Human Rights Council report (A/HRC/58/CRP.6) concludes that “sexual and gender-based violence is increasingly used as a method of war by Israel to destabilize, dominate, oppress, and destroy the Palestinian people.” Forms documented include forced strip searches, threats of rape, and sexual assault at military checkpoints. (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
  • Targeting of Reproductive Health: Attacks on Gaza’s reproductive health facilities—bombing of maternity wards and blocking delivery of medical supplies—are cited as genocidal acts aimed at undermining the birth rates and health of Palestinian women. (en.wikipedia.org, amnesty.org)

6. Blockade and Restrictions on Essential Services

  • Water and Electricity Infrastructure: Israel bombed multiple water desalination plants and power stations. As of May 2025, electricity is available only 4–6 hours per day in southern Gaza, with northern areas receiving none. This has forced reliance on unsafe groundwater, leading to waterborne disease outbreaks. (hrw.org, amnesty.org)
  • Education and Breadth of Siege: Nearly all schools in Gaza have been destroyed or repurposed as shelters. Over 1 million children have lost access to formal education since October 2023. Food insecurity—exacerbated by stalled July 2024 crossings—contributes to malnutrition rates exceeding 65 percent among children under five. (amnesty.org, hrw.org)

Analysis

The cumulative evidence points to systematic and widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by Israeli forces:

  1. Potential War Crimes
    • Starvation as a Method of Warfare: Denying essential supplies to a civilian population is explicitly prohibited under Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions (Article 54). The documented blockade and strikes on food infrastructure suggest that starvation has been used deliberately. (en.wikipedia.org, amnesty.org)
    • Indiscriminate Attacks: The principle of distinction requires belligerents to distinguish between civilians and combatants. The repeated bombing of densely populated neighborhoods, resulting in disproportionate civilian casualties, violates this principle (Geneva Convention IV, Article 48; Protocol I, Article 51). (theguardian.com, hrw.org)
    • Attacks on Protected Persons and Objects: Strikes on hospitals, schools, and ambulances breach the protected status granted to medical units and civilian infrastructure (Geneva Convention I–IV, Article 18). Destroying Al-Awda Hospital’s generator and firing on ambulances indicates possible direct attacks on protected persons. (aljazeera.com, en.wikipedia.org)
    • Forcible Transfer and Home Demolitions: Evacuating civilians under threat and demolishing their homes may constitute forcible transfers (Geneva Convention IV, Article 49) or a war crime if civilians were displaced without imperative military necessity. (hrw.org, ohchr.org)
    • Sexual Violence as a Method of Warfare: The use of sexual violence to terrorize and subjugate a population is a grave breach (Geneva Convention III, Article 130; Protocol I, Article 77). Documented systematic sexual abuses fit this criterion. (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
  2. Crimes Against Humanity
    • The pattern of widespread and systematic attacks on civilian populations—through killings, deportations, and inhumane acts—may amount to crimes against humanity (Rome Statute, Article 7). The IICI report’s findings on extermination and gender persecution indicate potential qualifying acts. (en.wikipedia.org, un.org)
  3. Genocide Considerations
    • While the IICI and UN experts stop short of formally declaring genocide, NGOs (e.g., HRF, Lemkin Institute) highlight actions suggestive of genocidal intent—particularly the destruction of reproductive health services and deliberate starvation—raising urgent questions under the Genocide Convention. (amnesty.org, en.wikipedia.org)
  4. Accountability Gaps
    • Israel’s domestic investigations have rarely resulted in prosecutions. The ICC’s Palestine investigation, covering crimes from October 7, 2023, onward, faces stalemate due to Israel’s non-recognition of ICC jurisdiction and the United States’ political opposition. (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)

Implications

  • Humanitarian Crisis Worsening: Continued violations will deepen Gaza’s humanitarian emergency, with famine, disease outbreaks, and latent trauma among civilian populations.
  • Regional Instability: The scale of destruction and displacement risks exacerbating radicalization, fueling regional militant recruitment, and undermining any prospects for future negotiations.
  • International Legal Precedent: Failure to hold perpetrators accountable may weaken the deterrent effect of international law, leaving future conflicts vulnerable to similar abuses.
  • Diplomatic Fallout: Western states face increasing domestic and international pressure to condition military aid on compliance with international law, affecting Israel’s long-standing strategic partnerships.
  • Information Environment: Widespread documentation—via Al Jazeera, The Guardian, and volunteer OSINT networks—has amplified global awareness of alleged violations, shaping public opinion and potentially influencing policy decisions. (aljazeera.com, theguardian.com)

Recommendations

  1. International Investigations and Legal Measures
    • Strengthen ICC Mandate: States Parties to the Rome Statute should support the ICC’s ongoing Palestine investigation, including allocating resources for evidence collection and witness protection. (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
    • Independent International Tribunal: Consider establishment of an ad hoc tribunal under UN auspices to address alleged crimes committed since October 2023, ensuring clarity on jurisdictional and procedural issues.
  2. Conditioning of Military and Economic Aid
    • Aid Conditionality: Major donors (U.S., EU) should condition further military assistance on demonstrable adherence to international humanitarian law—specifically halting actions that constitute starvation tactics or indiscriminate attacks. (theguardian.com, hrw.org)
    • Sanctions on Individuals and Entities: Implement targeted sanctions against commanders, military units, and defense contractors linked to documented violations (e.g., 401st Armored Brigade, listed by HRF). (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
  3. Humanitarian Access and Protection
    • Safe Passage Corridors: Urgently negotiate with Israeli authorities to open and maintain relief corridors for food, medicine, and fuel to all areas of Gaza, with monitoring mechanisms by the UN and ICRC.
    • Protection of Medical Facilities: Deploy UN and ICRC protection teams at surviving hospitals and clinics, with clearly marked no-strike zones agreed upon by all parties.
  4. Monitoring and Documentation
    • Enhanced OSINT Partnerships: Support independent OSINT networks (e.g., Bellingcat, Al Jazeera Investigative Unit) to continue geolocating and verifying incidents, ensuring transparent archival of digital evidence for future prosecutions.
    • Civilian Reporting Channels: Expand secure channels for Gazan civilians to report abuses (e.g., encrypted mobile apps), allowing real-time logging of incidents with geotagged photos and videos.
  5. Diplomatic Engagement for Ceasefire and Reconstruction
    • International Ceasefire Enforcement: Back UN-led ceasefire proposals with robust monitoring, linking reconstruction aid to verifiable cessation of hostilities and adherence to civilian protection norms.
    • Reconstruction Oversight: Establish an international post-conflict reconstruction authority—with input from Palestinian civil society—to oversee rebuilding of homes, hospitals, schools, and water infrastructure, preventing unilateral demolition and appropriation.

Conclusion

Independent investigations and extensive documentation by UN bodies, NGOs, and media outlets paint a grave picture of Israeli actions in Gaza that likely constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The systematic use of starvation, indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas, targeting of medical facilities, forced displacement, and gender-based violence violate core provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. Urgent international action—through enhanced investigations, legal accountability, humanitarian protections, and aid conditionality—is critical to halt ongoing abuses, alleviate Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, and uphold the integrity of international law. Continued impunity risks further destabilization of the region and erosion of global human rights norms.

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