Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes inโ Westโ Bank Expulsions
Ramallah, West bank – โNovember 20, 2025 – Human Rights Watch today โคaccused Israeli authorities โof committing warโ crimes through the forced displacement of โขPalestinians from the northern West Bank village of Khirbet โฃal-Rasoul, alleging actions constituting a deliberate attack against a civilianโข population. The association’s report โdetails the demolition of homesโฃ and infrastructure on โฃNovember 13, 2025,โค renderingโ approximately 68 peopel homeless, and alleges these actions violate international humanitarian law.
The expulsions, occurring amidst heightened tensions and a surge in settler โฃviolence, raise serious concerns about escalating human rights abuses and the potential for further displacement in the occupied West Bank. This incident underscores a pattern of โคunlawful demolitions and forced transfers, impacting the lives of vulnerable Palestinian communities and โjeopardizing prospects for a peacefulโค resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The report calls โfor accountability for those responsible and demands an โขend to the practice of forcibly displacing Palestinians.
According to the โคhuman rights Watch investigation, Israeli forces demolished 14 residential structures, including shelters provided โby international aid organizations, alongโ with essential infrastructure like water tanks and solar panels. The demolitions followed a military order declaring the area a closed military zone, effectively โคpreventing residents from returning.
“Destroying homes โคand essential infrastructure to force people off their land is a war crime,” stated omar Shakir, Israel and โฃPalestine Director at Human Rightsโ watch. “Israeli authoritiesโฃ are โnot only making life unbearable for Palestinians in the West Bank, but are actively committing crimes to achieve their goals.”
the โขreport highlights that theโ demolitions occurred despite the absence of any legitimate militaryโค necessity. Human Rights Watch found no evidence suggesting the area posed a threatโ to Israeli security, leading the organization toโ conclude the actions were intended toโค consolidate Israeli control overโค the land and โfacilitate the expansion of โnearby settlements.
International law โคprohibits the forced displacement of civilians, except in cases of military necessity โขthat are proportionate and respect the rights of those affected. Human Rightsโฃ Watch asserts that the Khirbet al-Rasoulโ demolitions fail to meet these criteria and constitute a deliberate violation of the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court.
Theโ organization is urging the International Criminal Court to investigate these alleged war crimes as part ofโ its ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine.It also calls on Israel toโ immediately โคcease all forced displacement โand โunlawful demolitions in the โoccupied West Bank and to hold accountable those responsible for these abuses.
