Appendix of Death Destruction Displacement in Gaza as PDF here:
Appendix of Death.Destruction,Displacment in Gaza.20.11.24.F
Death, Destruction and Displacement by Israel of Palestinians in the GAZA in violation of the United Nations (UN) Convention to Prevent and Punish the Crime of Genocide [1]
All figures are rising: some have already risen. Many figures are based on estimates. Foreign journalists are banned from Gaza and more than 137 Palestinians journalists have been killed. None of the figures are known to be credibly disputed.
43,603 Killed including 16,765 children killed.[2] 80% of deaths (40% of them children: 26% women) occurred in bombed residences.
250,000 + Consequential Deaths. [3]
Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential, concludes the death tolls provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health have been independently confirmed but do not include indirect deaths that will occur in the future due to factors including lack of food, water, medical care, reduction of aid from UNRWA, forced displacements, destruction of homes, waste water treatment systems, medical treatment facilities, water borne diseases, inescapable exposure to toxic air-borne particles from destroyed buildings and white phosphorous from bombing, and inability to escape. The authors conclude the actual death toll may be “four indirect deaths per one direct death” which would put the current and future deaths from Israeli genocide at 250,000…” Those killed include children, students (11,852 Palestinian students) journalists, teachers, medical workers, humanitarian workers, patients, UNRWA workers.
103,746 Injured[4]
10,000 + Missing
220 + UNRWA Workers Killed[5]
137 to 173 Journalists Killed[6]
1,900,000 Displaced in Gaza (90% of 2.2 million residents)
600,000 children in Rafah “injured, sick or malnourished” [7]
362 Schools Destroyed (70% of schools) estimated[8]
5 (at least) of 7 Universities Destroyed by bombing by early April 2024. (Visual estimate)
474 Health Care Facilities Attacked, Hospitals Destroyed [9]
42 Million Tons of Toxic Rubble from military bombardment.[10]
Methods of killing, injuring and destroying
Means used by Israel to kill people and destroy necessary services and facilities in Gaza include: bombing and other means of military attacks; air-borne white phosphorous from munitions; air- borne toxins from bombing and burning of buildings and contents; preventing escape; forced displacements; blockades of food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies; destruction of homes, schools, refugee camps, medical facilities, universities and other places of refuge; destruction of crops, agricultural lands, waste water systems, water and electricity delivery systems, communications systems and transportation routes; causing conditions that make the rescue and treatment of those directly or indirectly injured impossible; refusing to comply with recommendations and orders.
UNRWA is the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. When UNRWA continued to provide food, water, medicine and education and health services in Gaza, Israel accused some of UNRWA’s 3,0000 employees of involvement in the 7 October attacks. 16 states including the two largest funders, the US and Germany cut off funding. Canada stopped its UNRWA funding on 26 January 2024. By January 153 UNRWA employees had been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza. The UN Office of Oversight Services (OIOS) started investigation and released an interim report in March 2024 indicating that UNRWA had in place measures to ensure neutrality. Canada and Sweden (respectively the11th and 4th biggest UNRWA funders) announced resumption of UNRWA funding. In August OIOS reported no evidence against one accused, evidence that was “insufficient to confirm involvement” against nine, and, evidence that another nine of possible involvement and recommended termination of the latter. With some UNRWA funding restored, Israel on 28 October passed two laws banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and Palestinian territories and banning contact between UNRWA employees and Israeli officials, to take effect 28 January banning UNRWA. Norway is asking the UN General Assembly to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legality of these laws and Israel’s legal obligation to allow adequate humanitarian aid to the people trapped in Gaza.[11]
WEST BANK[12]
780 killed including 167 children
6,250 Injured
LEBANON
1,000,000 displaced[13]
492 killed[14]
25% of buildings in Lebanon’s south destroyed.[15]
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE DECISIONS
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel’s occupation of Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem and its military and other attacks on Palestinians are wholly illegal and must stop. This ruling has been made in two cases: the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel);[16] and, the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. [17]
South Africa filed a complaint on 30 December 2023 that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in violation of the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention). Submissions on South Africa’s application for provisional (interim) measures to prevent irreparable harm to Palestinians pending a final decision, were presented on 11 and 12 January 2024 and the ICJ made interim orders on 26 January 2024. The ICJ made two additional orders on 28 March 2024 and 24 May 2024 in response to South Africa filing applications stating that Israel was not complying with the 26 January interim orders to stop and prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians. The 14 states that have intervened up to 12 November 2024 are: Nicaragua (8 February 2024): Belgium (11 March); Ireland (27 March); Colombia (5 April); Libya (10 May 2024); Egypt (12 May); Cuba (22 June); Mexico (28 May); Palestine (3 June); Spain (28 June); Türkiye (7 August); Chile (13 September); Maldives (2 October); Bolivia (9 October).
ICJ 26 January 2024 Order[18] On 26 January 2024, the ICJ, consisting of 17 judges (2 dissenting) ordered Israel to:
- “take all measures within its power to prevent” acts against Palestinians prohibited by the Genocide Convention including: killing Palestinians, causing serious bodily or mental harm to Palestinians; deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to destroy in whole or in part, the group of Palestinians in Gaza, in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births;
- ensure that its military does not commit any of the above identified acts (16 to 1);
- take measures to prevent and punish incitement to genocide (15 to 2);
- immediately ensure provision of services and humanitarian assistance (15 to 2); and,
- submit a report on actions taken within one month (15 to 2).[19]
Israel Failed to Comply- South Africa applied for additional provisional orders
ICJ Order of 28 March 2024 [20]
On 28 March 2024, the ICJ confirmed the January order of 24 January and in addition ordered Israel to:
§ prevent the spread of famine and starvation by taking all measure necessary in cooperation with the UN to allow unhindered provision of aid and services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitary requirements, medical supplies and treatment to Palestinians throughout Gaza by increasing and keeping open land crossings; and,
§ ensure that military does not commit any acts violating the rights of Palestinians as a protected group under the Genocide Convention.
ICJ Order of 24 May 2024 [21]
On 24 May 2024 the ICJ on the application of South Africa, made another order noting Israel’s non-compliance with earlier orders and the failure of Israel’s forced evacuations to protect civilians. The ICJ by a vote of 12 to 2 ordered Israel to take additional measures including to: open the Rafah crossing and allow unimpeded provisions of aid and assistance; immediately halt any military actions in the Rafah Governorate that might inflict conditions that would destroy Palestinians; and, allow Commission of Inquiry personnel into Gaza.
On 30 December 2022, the UN General Assembly by resolution requested the ICJ to provide an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.[22]
ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 [23]
The ICJ concluded that the occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory since 1967 is illegal under international law and that all states are legally obligated to recognize it as such and not assist its perpetuation. The ICJ ordered Israel to: stop occupation; cease settlements; evacuate settlers; and, make reparations. States were ordered to recognize Israel’s occupation as illegal and to not assist in maintaining the occupation and international organization were ordered to NOT recognize the occupation as legal.
“The Court considers that Israel is not entitled to sovereignty over or to exercise sovereign powers in any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory on account of its occupation. Nor can Israel’s security concerns override the principle of the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force. …
The effects of these policies and practices include Israel’s annexation of parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the fragmentation of this territory, undermining its integrity, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of the enjoyment of the natural resources of the territory and its impairment of the Palestinian people’s right to pursue its economic, social and cultural development.”
The ICJ ruled that “the State of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful” and that Israel is legally obligated to:
- bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible;
- cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
- make reparation for the damage caused to all the natural or legal persons concerned in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
The ICJ determined the duties of states and international organizations as follows:
- All states are under an obligation NOT to recognize the occupation by Israel as legal and NOT to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
- International organizations, including the UN, are obliged to NOT recognize as legal the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and
- Directed the UN, General Assembly and Security Council to consider the “action required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
NGOs REPORT ISRAEL’S FAILURE to COMPLY
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported in February 2024[24] that Israel was not complying with ICJ orders “and was blocking humanitarian aid.” HRW stated that Israel was preventing adequate fuel and food from entering Gaza, had shut off electricity and shut down or destroyed two of the three lines delivering water into Gaza and the third line was operating at 47% of capacity and that Israel was “using starvation as a means of war,” as a result over a million people in Gaza was facing acute food and water shortage. HRW concluded in, Homeless, Starving, and Besieged,[25] that the forced displacement by Israel of 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza is a war crime and a crime against humanity.
Norwegian Refugee Council –The November 2024 report of the Norwegian Refugee Council and seven other organizations gave Israel a failing grade on all but 4 of 19 measures requested by the US to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.[26]
UN REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS
UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
“Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population,”
“Through its blockade of Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, and despite repeated appeals by the United Nations, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and Security Council resolutions, Israel is deliberately causing death, starvation and severe injury, using starvation as a tool of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population,”
“the intense Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza has destroyed basic services and caused an environmental disaster that will have long-term health effects.”
“By early 2024, 25,000 tons of explosives – the equivalent of two nuclear bombs – had been dropped on Gaza, causing widespread destruction, the collapse of water and sanitation systems, the devastation of agriculture and toxic pollution, ” [27]
The Special Committee warns, “Upholding international law and ensuring accountability for violations rests squarely on [UN] Member States. A failure to do so weakens the very core of the international legal system and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing atrocities to go unchecked.” (emphasis added)
UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs warns, “Conditions of life across Gaza are unfit for human survival… Now is the time for the Security Council to use its powers under the UN Charter to ensure compliance with international law and full implementation of its resolutions.”[28]
UN General Assembly by a vote of 159 for, 6 against (including Canada and Israel), and 11 abstentions, adopted a Resolution confirming, “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Syrians in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources,” and calling for cessation of the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment of the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and restitution for the damages caused by Israel.[29]
UN Human Rights Council Resolution,[30] (28 in favour, 6 against and 13 abstentions) Human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, demands that Israel immediately stop, remedy and prevent further genocide against Palestinians and the unlawful occupation by Israel since 1967 of Palestinians lands, by immediate: removal of blockades, ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid and assistance and restoration of necessaries. The Resolution calls on all states to take immediate action to: prevent forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza; stop the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel; provide emergency assistance to Palestinians; and, ensure funding for UNRWA.
The Resolution also directed the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory to report on both the direct and indirect transfer and sale of arms, munitions, parts, components and dual use items to Israel and the legal consequences of these transfers, and to present its report to the Council at its fifty-ninth session in June 2025.[31]
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese’ report concludes that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and warns that the tragedy risks escalating to affect other Palestinians under Israeli rule. “Systematic attacks on Gaza food sovereignty indicate an intent to destroy its population through starvation,” the report states, referencing August remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called starving Gaza “justified and moral.” [32]
“While the wholesale destruction of Gaza continues unabated, other parts of the land have not been spared. The violence that Israel has unleashed against the Palestinians post-7 October is not happening in a vacuum, but is part of a long-term intentional, systematic, State organized forced displacement and replacement of the Palestinians. This trajectory risks causing irreparable prejudice to the very existence of the Palestinian people in Palestine. Member States must intervene now to prevent new atrocities that will further scar human history.”
KNOWLEDGE OF ISRAEL’S INTENT to COMMIT GENOCIDE of PALESTINIANS
Canada has known of the planned killing of Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023 when then Defense Minister Yoaz Galant announced,
“I have lowered all the restraints—we will kill everyone we fight against: we will use every means.” Canada was forewarned that the means would include starvation, dehydration and disease when Defense Minister Galant and other Israeli officials ordered that there would be, “No electricity, no food, no fuel…..We are fighting human animals and will act accordingly.” Major General Giora Eilande, former head of Israel’s National Security Council, applauded this action stating, “The way to win the war faster and at a lower cost for us requires a system collapse on the other side and not the mere killing of more Hamas fighters. The international community warns us of a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and of severe epidemics. We must not shy away from this, as difficult as that may be. After all, severe epidemics in the south of the Gaza Strip will bring victory closer and reduce casualties among army soldiers.”[33]
The intention to commit genocide has been confirmed by Israeli actions including the: number of deaths, injuries, displacements; blockades preventing access to food, water, electricity, medical supplies and fuel; destruction of homes, food, crops, agricultural lands, electricity and water delivery systems, sewage treatment systems, schools, universities, libraries, hospitals and medical facilities and shelters. The intention to carry out genocide was further confirmed when the Israeli Finance Minister implied “that he believes blocking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is “justified and moral” even if it causes two million civilians to die of hunger”[34]
PLEASE ACT NOW
To enforce the Convention against Genocide
&
The right to life of all Palestinians
Prepared by Gail Davidson
Written feedback on errors
or omissions can be sent to
19 November 2024
[1] UN General Assembly, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, UN, Treaty Series, vol. 78, p. 277, 9 December 1948, Canada is a State Party to the Convention having signed on 28 November 1949 and ratified 3 September 1952.
[2] Israel-Gaza war in maps and Charts: Live Tracker updated 10 November 2024, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker
[3] Rasha Khatib, Martin McKee, Salim Yusuf, Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential , The Lancet, 10 July 2024 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01169-3/fulltext
[4] [4] Israel-Gaza war in maps and Charts: Live Tracker updated 10 November 2024, Supra note 2
[5] UN News, Gaza: Six UNRWA staff killed in strikes on school sheltering displaced people, 11 September 2024.
[6] Journalist casualties in the Israel-Gaza war, Committee to Protect Journalists, 18 November 2024 https://cpj.org/2024/11/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/ See also Israel is deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza: Experts: Press freedom groups point to a pattern of killing clearly identified journalists., Aljazeera, 23 September 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/23/israel-is-deliberately-targeting-journalists-in-gaza-experts
[7] “Nearly all of the 600,000 children now sheltering in the southern border city of Rafah are “injured, sick or malnourished”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chief said in a video post on X…, UN News, Global Perspective Human Stories, May 2024 https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1149256
[8] 70% of schools in Gaza destroyed or damaged during Israel-Hamas war, ABC News analysis finds, 11 September 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/International/70-schools-gaza-destroyed-damaged-israel-hamas-war/story?id=113412283
[9] One year of Israel’s war on Gaza, Al-Jazeera, 8 October 2024
See also Remember the Palestinian Doctors Killed by Israel, Vijay Prashad, Counter Punch, 24 June 2024 https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/06/24/remember-the-palestinian-doctors-killed-by-israel/
[10] Supra note 3 See also Natalie Rozannes, The Gaza war is an environmental catastrophe, +972 Magazine, 5 September 2024.
[11] Norway to seek ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s ban of UNRWA, The NewArab News, 19 November 2024.
https://www.newarab.com/news/norway-seeks-icj-ruling-israels-ban-unrwa
[12] Israel-Gaza war in maps and Charts Live Tracker updated 10 November 2024, Supra note 2
[13] UN News, 30 September, Lebanon crisis: Over one million people flee strikes amid invasion fears https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1155141
[14] At least 492 killed in Lebanon as Israel bombards Hezbollah, Health Ministry says, CBC 23 September https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-1.7331037#:~:text=The%20Lebanese%20Health%20Ministry%20said%20at%20least%20492,since%20the%20civil%20war%20that%20ended%20in%201990.
[15] Israel has damaged or destroyed nearly a quarter of buildings in Lebanon’s south: Almost 6,000 structures have been affected in border villages, including at least nine religious sites demolished in controlled explosions, a Post analysis found. Meg Kelly, Imogen Piper, Evan Hill, Abbie Cheeseman, The Washington Post, 31 October 2024.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/31/israel-war-lebanon-south-destruction/
[16] South Africa v Israel, ICJ Latest Developments. For access to all submissions, press releases, decisions and summaries in South Africa v Israel see. https://www.icj-cij.org/case/192
[17] Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Access to all submissions, press releases, decisions and summaries in this case is available on the ICJ website here https://www.icj-cij.org/case/186
[18] South Africa v. Israel, ICJ Order of 26 January 2024. See order and Press Release at the link in Footnote 16.
[19] Dissenting judges are Judge Sebutinde; Judge ad hoc Barak when 2 and when one Judge Sebutinde.
Barak is an Israeli lawyer who was appointed to the 15-judge panel of the ICJ ahead of South Africa’s case against Israel. Under the ICJ’s rules, a country that does not have a judge to represent it on the bench can choose an ad hoc judge. Judge Sebutinde is a Ugandan jurist serving her second term on the ICJ.
[20] South Africa v Israel, ICJ Order of 28 March 2024, https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240328-ord-01-00-en.pdf See ICJ Press Release 28 March 2024
[21] South Africa v Israel, ICJ Order 24 May 2024 https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240524-pre-01-00-en.pdf See also ICJ Press Release 24 May 2024
[22] UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/247 adopted 30 December 2022, https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A.RES_.77.247_301222.pdf
[23] ICJ Press Release, 19 July 2024 https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-pre-01-00-en.pdf Full text of the 19 July 2024 ICJ decision can be accessed here https://www.icj-cij.org/case/186
[24] Israel Not Complying with World Court Order in Genocide Case: Failing to Ensure Basic Services, Aid, HRW, 26 February 2024 https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/26/israel-not-complying-world-court-order-genocide-case
[25] Homeless, Starving, and Besieged, HRW, 14 November 2024 concludes that forced displacement of Palestinians by Israel is a war crime and a crime against humanity https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/11/14/hopeless-starving-and-besieged/israels-forced-displacement-palestinians-gaza
[26] THE GAZA SCORECARD, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children, anera, MedGlobal, Mercy Corps, Refugees International, November 2024 https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/pdf/reports/gaza-scorecard/the-gaza-scorecard.pdf
[27] UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Press Release, 14 November 2024, https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/un-special-committee-finds-israels-warfare-methods-gaza-consistent-genocide
See also Report of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, United Nations A/79/363, 20 September 2024 – https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/271/19/pdf/n2427119.pdf
[28] Briefing to the Security Council on the Protection of Civilians in Gaza by Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, 12 November 2024 https://www.unocha.org/news/conditions-gaza-unfit-human-survival-acting-un-relief-chief-tells-security-council
[29] UN General Assembly Second Committee (Economic and Financial) Resolution “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”, A/C.2/79/L.40), 14 November 2024.
[30] The UN Human Rights Council Resolution, Ensuring respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel A/HRC/55/L.30, 26 March 2024. https://undocs.org/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2FHRC%2F55%2FL.30&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False
[31] UN Human Rights Council Resolution, Human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, A/HRC/55/L.30, 26 March 2024
[32] Genocide as Colonial Erasure, Report of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese on Situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem occupied since 1967, A/79/384, 1 October 2024 https://www.un.org/unispal/document/genocide-as-colonial-erasure-report-francesca-albanese-01oct24/
See Interviews with the Special Rapporteur, “Gaza not fit for human life” https://www.radiohc.cu/en/noticias/internacionales/368703-un-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-paints-grim-picture-of-gaza-saying-the-country-is-unfit-for-human-life and Democracy Now https://www.democracynow.org/2024/10/31/francesca_albanese
[33] Spread of epidemics in Gaza brings Israel closer to victory: Retired general, an/news, 20 November 2023 https://www.anews.com.tr/middle-east/2023/11/20/spread-of-epidemics-in-gaza-brings-israel-closer-to-victory-retired-general
[34] Smotrich: It may be ‘justified’ to starve 2 million Gazans, but world won’t let us
Far-right minister expresses support for resettling Gaza, says October 7 wouldn’t have happened had it not been for 2005 disengagement from Strip, The Times of Israel, 5 August 2024 https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-it-may-be-justified-to-starve-2-million-gazans-but-world-wont-let-us/#:~:text=Finance%20Minister%20Bezalel%20Smotrich%20implied%20on%20Monday%20that,the%20international%20community%20won%E2%80%99t%20allow%20that%20to%20happen.