Norwegian Refugee Council: Gaza forcible transfers would be a war crime

One of the world’s most respected humanitarian organisations has said Israel’s order to more than a million Palestinians in northern Gaza to move to the south within 24 hours “absent of any guarantees of safety or return” would amount to a war crime.

The Norwegian Refugee Council reiterated that the collective punishment of Gaza’s civilians by Israel was illegal under international law.

In a statement on Wednesday it said: “The loss of civilian lives caused by deliberate or indiscriminate use of force is a war crime for which the perpetrators will have to answer. 

“We fear that Israel may claim that Palestinians who could not flee northern Gaza can be erroneously held as directly participating in hostilities, and targeted.”

It further called on Israel’s allies in the West and the Middle East to rein in its actions.

“The United States, the UK, the European Union and other western and Arab nations who have influence over the Israeli political and military leadership must demand that the illegal and impossible order to relocate is immediately rescinded.”