Israel using starvation as weapon of war, says HRW

Israel is using starvation as weapon of war against civilians Palestinian in the Gaza Strip, which is a war crime, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. 

The group accused the Israeli army of "deliberately" blocking the delivery of water, food, and fuel, while "wilfully impeding humanitarian assistance".

It added that Israeli forces were "apparently" razing agricultural areas and depriving the civilian population of "objects indispensable to their survival".

“For over two months, Israel has been depriving Gaza's population of food and water, a policy spurred on or endorsed by high-ranking Israeli officials and reflecting an intent to starve civilians as a method of warfare,” Omar Shakir, HRW's Israel and Palestine director, said.

“World leaders should be speaking out against this abhorrent war crime, which has devastating effects on Gaza’s population.”