Israel accused of 'genocide' for depriving water to Palestinians

Israel has been accused of killing thousands of Palestinians by depriving them of clean water, which Human rights groups have legally equated to acts of 'genocide and extermination'.
"This policy, inflicted as part of a mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, means Israeli authorities have committed the crime against humanity of extermination, which is ongoing. This policy also amounts to an 'act of genocide' under the Genocide Convention of 1948," Human Rights Watch said according to news agency AP.
Israel has consistently denied accusations of genocide, emphasizing its adherence to international law and its right to self-defense following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack from Gaza that triggered the ongoing conflict.
In a statement on X, Israel's foreign ministry rejected claims by Human Rights Watch (HRW), describing them as false. "The truth is the complete opposite of HRW's lies," the statement declared. It added that since the war began, Israel has facilitated a continuous supply of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza, despite being under constant attacks from Hamas.
While the HRW report characterised the denial of water to Gaza as a potential act of genocide, it noted that proving genocide would require evidence of intent. The report cited statements from senior Israeli officials suggesting hostility toward Palestinians, arguing that such actions "may amount to the crime of genocide." Lama Fakih, HRW's Middle East director, claimed Israel was deliberately depriving Palestinians of essential water supplies needed for survival.
Israel responded by asserting that it had maintained operational water infrastructure and allowed international partners to deliver water tankers via Israeli crossings. It also reported facilitating the entry of over 1.2 million tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
HRW is the second major human rights organisation in a month to accuse Israel of genocide, following a similar report by Amnesty International. These reports come weeks after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a former defense minister over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity—allegations both deny.
The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as acts intended to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The 184-page HRW report detailed Israel's cessation of water supplies to Gaza, alongside cuts to electricity and fuel, crippling Gaza's water and sanitation facilities. This left many residents with only a few liters of water per day, far below the survival threshold of 15 liters.
Israel's military campaign followed a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians, displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents, and left much of the territory in ruins.