Forced Displacement

Legal Ban on Forced Transfers

Under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, any “individual or mass forcible transfers… of protected persons from occupied territory… regardless of motive” are strictly prohibited and considered a grave breach . The ICC’s Rome Statute further classifies forcible transfer—within or outside territory—as a war crime in non-international armed conflict, and a crime against humanity when widespread or systematic.

Mass Evacuations — Military Orders to Depart

On 13 October 2023, Israel ordered the evacuation of over 1.1 million civilians from northern Gaza, signalling these zones as “safe” and issuing the order under threat of force. Independent monitors—including Jan Egeland (former Norwegian diplomat)—declared this a forcible transfer and a war crime. The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry confirmed 80+ evacuation orders by December 2023, finding them unclear, coercive, and often issued with no time or means for civilians to evacuate safely.

Displacement without Safety or Security

Human Rights Watch documented that evacuation routes, “safe zones,” and community shelters were routinely bombed—sometimes even before civilians arrived—resulting in widespread civilian deaths and trauma . One displaced woman noted survivors were shelled “while we were walking” after following evacuation instructions. As of late 2024, these policies have forced the internal displacement of over 90% of Gaza’s population—approximately 1.9 million people.

Destruction Preventing Return

Israel has demolished tens of thousands of homes and civilian infrastructure, effectively rendering areas uninhabitable and deterring residents from returning. Human Rights Watch warns this practice aligns with ethnic cleansing, as it combines displacement with infrastructural destruction to prevent return—meeting criteria for crimes against humanity .

Violations of International Humanitarian Law

These acts violate:

  • Article 49 GC IV: Forbids mass forcible transfer/deportation.

  • Rome Statute Arts. 7–8: Forced displacement qualifies as both a war crime and a crime against humanity when systematic.

  • UN Commission Findings: A mass forcible transfer campaign was documented, failing to meet legal safeguards and safety prerequisites .

Demonstration by Palestinians on Nakba Day at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Germany (May 2025)

Image credit: Shutterstock/Mo Photography Berlin