The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) is deeply alarmed by Israel’s new plan to expand its already overwhelming military occupation of the Gaza Strip by taking full control of Gaza City, where more than one million Palestinians have been forced to live in makeshift camps and the ruins of destroyed homes. This new chapter in Israel’s ongoing genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation of Palestine is carried out with the full complicity of its allied states that continue to provide weapons and political cover. While Israel begins its new offensive, the United States is once again demonstrating its abject, uncritical support of Israel by imposing further sanctions on the International Criminal Court, with the aim of obstructing the ICC’s pursuit of accountability for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other war criminals.
‘For nearly two years, the international community has stood idly by as Israel systematically destroys Gaza and deliberately kills en masse its people, starving them to death and forcibly displacing them in unimaginable conditions while intentionally obstructing adequate access to food, water, shelter or basic medical care. States must urgently act to stop Israel’s genocidal campaign or they will irrevocably lose their moral authority and further undermine respect for international law,’ says Amna Guellali, Research Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
On 20 August 2025, Israel announced the official start of its offensive to take over Gaza City and that it would be calling up 60,000 reservists, adding to the tens of thousands already mobilized, and has already intensified bombardments and forcibly displaced hundreds of families. The first phase of the plan aims to gradually and forcibly evacuate the city by 7 October 2025, with no guarantees of return, pushing the population into so called ‘safe zones’ that are overcrowded, unsafe and lack adequate shelter, food, and medical services.
The forced displacement of Palestinians is especially concerning and indicative of Israel’s genocidal intent, as are its repeated statements about the forced transfer of Palestinians to third countries. Israel justified the offensive by the need to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages; however, it comes only days after Hamas accepted a 60-day ceasefire proposal, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, further demonstrating Israel’s obstruction of efforts to end the war. At the same time, CIHRS reiterates that Hamas should release the remaining civilian hostages regardless of any ceasefire agreement as their continued detention constitutes a war crime.
Since October 2023, Israel’s attacks and genocidal policies in Gaza have displaced almost its entire population multiple times, while subjecting them to dire conditions of life and deliberately starving them. Over 60,000 Palestinians had been killed by 20 August 2025, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, though the actual toll is likely significantly higher due to severe underreporting. Nearly 2,018 people of those killed by Israel were trying to access food aid provisions, and 270 died from malnutrition, of whom 122 were children. Israel has continued its indiscriminate and widespread attacks; by April 2025, it had damaged or destroyed over 92% of all residential buildings.
Israel continues to violate international law with these policies, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention and multiple International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings. In 2024 alone, the ICJ repeatedly ordered Israel to cease its military operations in the Gaza Strip and provide unhindered access to humanitarian aid and basic services. In July 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to immediately end its occupation of Palestinian territories and affirmed the obligation of other states to refrain from relations with Israel that may entrench or help maintain its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
On June 2024, CIHRS found extensive direct and circumstantial evidence that Israel has deliberately imposed conditions of life on Palestinians in Gaza that inevitably lead to their ‘physical destruction’, in line with elements of the crime of genocide. The report emphasized the responsibility of Israel’s allies and Arab states in these atrocities, whether through complicity or through support by providing Israel with the political, financial, and military.
Since then, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza have alarmingly worsened while States continue to fail in taking any concrete measures to hold Israel accountable, and have notably failed to uphold the ICJ rulings or implement the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrants issued in November 2024 against Netanyahu and previous Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. Some states have even announced their intent to not implement them. Instead of using its influence to stop violations, the United States has doubled down on its unconditional support for Israel, including by sanctioning ICC judges and the ICC prosecutor for engaging in efforts to prosecute US and Israeli citizens, on 20 August 2025.
In the West Bank, Israel continues to expand its illegal settlements and forcibly displace Palestinians, with nearly 36,000 displaced in the first half of 2025, a record number compared to any similar period since 2009. On 20 August 2025, Israel approved the ‘E1’ illegal settlement project in East Jerusalem, in one of the last geographical links between the major West Bank cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem. This ethnic cleansing project, which has been frozen for over two decades due to international pressure, particularly from the US, comes at a time of international talks and increased support amongst an already global majority of states for the recognition of a Palestinian state. It would inevitably undermine these prospects and further entrench Israel’s apartheid system and occupation of Palestinian territories.
Nearly two years into the war on Gaza, and over 58 years of occupation of Palestinian territories, the world continues to fail Palestinians despite their international obligations, binding ICJ rulings, and repeated warnings from rights groups and UN experts. CIHRS reiterates its calls on States to urgently and immediately:
- Pressure Israel to halt its offensive on Gaza, including its operation to seize Gaza City and push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
- Ensure the definitive end of the blockade on Gaza, and the urgent, effective and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
- In line with the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion, urgently review all relations with Israel and suspend those that support and enable its violations of international law, including its continued occupation of Palestinian territories, illegal settlements and apartheid. This includes imposing an arms embargo, banning trade and other cooperation agreements, such as the trade provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreementwhich EU Member States are empowered to do by qualified majority vote.
- Support independent and international mechanisms to investigate human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
- Enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Netanyahu, previous Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and all other warrants the Court may issue arising from escalating violations in Gaza, the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory or in Israel.
Share this Post