US denies forced displacement, genocide in Gaza, contradicting report by rights group

The US said Thursday it has not seen "any kind of specific forced displacement" in the Gaza Strip, contradicting reports by human rights groups that accuse Israel of forcibly displacing nearly 1.9 million Palestinians.

"We have not seen any kind of specific forced displacement. But as you've heard us say consistently, this is something that we're going to pay incredibly close attention to," State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters when he was asked about the latest report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"It is wholly consistent and acceptable to ask civilians to evacuate a certain area while they are conducting certain military operations, and then for them to be able to go home," he said.

Patel emphasized that forced displacement of Palestinians "would be a red line" for the US, referencing a Nov. 8, 2023, speech by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tokyo where he underlined that there should be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza -- “not now, not after the war” -- and reiterated US opposition to any reoccupation of the territory.

Patel also rejected findings by a UN committee that described Israeli military actions in Gaza as consistent with "genocide."

"We think that that kind of phrasing and those kinds of accusations are certainly unfounded," said Patel, reiterating a previous US assessment.

The UN committee accused Israel of intentionally imposing life-threatening conditions on Palestinians, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

"Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life – food, water, and fuel," said the committee, adding that Israel has systematically interfered with humanitarian aid to use vital supplies for political and military ends.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Israel on Thursday of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcibly displacing nearly 1.9 million Palestinians during its onslaught in Gaza.

In the report, "Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged: Israel's Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza,” HRW detailed how Israeli attacks, evacuation orders and destruction of infrastructure have created a humanitarian catastrophe.

"The intention of Israeli forces appears likely to ensure they remain permanently emptied and cleansed of Palestinians and, in their place, occupied and controlled by Israeli forces," it said.

HRW demanded immediate international action, including independent investigations into Israel's actions. The report urged global actors to hold Israeli authorities accountable for the displacement and the humanitarian crisis.