Amnesty International yesterday called for an investigation into Israeli attacks on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, labeling them as potential war crimes. The organization emphasized that Israel “failed to take necessary precautions to avoid or minimize harm to civilians” resulting from the airstrikes.
In a new investigation into Israel’s violations of its international obligations to protect civilians, the organization confirmed that the Israeli airstrikes targeting displaced persons’ camps in Rafah since the start of the military operation in May used weapons with wide-ranging effects, according to Al Jazeera.
Amnesty International highlighted that Israeli attacks using wide-impact bombs in densely populated civilian areas constitute a violation, noting that targeting civilians with inaccurate weapons can cause widespread harm.
The organization stated that international law prohibits attacks that do not distinguish between military and civilian targets, asserting that the Israeli military bombed areas claimed to be “safe” under the pretext of targeting fighters.
The investigation documented the use of indiscriminate attacks by the Israeli military against displaced persons in the camps in Rafah, stressing that international law prohibits this type of attack.
Amnesty International argued that the Israeli military’s justification of targeting areas crowded with displaced persons under the pretext that there were fighters from Hamas or Islamic Jihad present does not absolve it of its responsibility to protect civilians.
The organization added that the illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and Israel’s orders for the residents to relocate to smaller areas have exacerbated the suffering of civilians amid the ongoing war.
Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Gaza on October 7, the Israeli military has targeted displaced persons’ camps and densely populated civilian areas, leading to the death and injury of tens of thousands, the disappearance of about 10,000 people, and massive destruction of infrastructure.
