Human Rights Watch urges immediate action to protect Gaza civilians
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Human Rights Watch calls on world governments to act now to protect civilians in Gaza and hold "Israel" accountable, rejecting Trump’s ceasefire plan delay.
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Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Sunday, October 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on governments to take immediate action to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, urging that measures not be delayed by the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s newly announced ceasefire plan.
In a statement released Monday, the New York-based rights organization stressed that “the plan presented by President Trump does not substitute the urgent steps governments must take to protect civilians and uphold justice after two years of grave abuses in Israel and Palestine.”
HRW criticized the 20-point plan for failing to address human rights violations or ensure accountability for crimes committed since October 7, 2023.
“The plan does not directly address accountability for serious crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the group said, adding that it has documented numerous violations by "Israel" that amount to “acts of genocide” and breaches of binding International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings.
The organization urged governments to pressure "Israel" to lift its unlawful restrictions on humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and to impose sanctions, including halting arms transfers, suspending trade agreements, and enacting travel bans and asset freezes against officials responsible for ongoing atrocities.
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Human Rights Watch urges accountability for Israeli crimes
“All governments must act to prevent further atrocities and defend the universality of human rights,” HRW said, emphasizing that silence or inaction enables further violations.
The group reiterated that Israeli aggressions on Gaza have led to catastrophic humanitarian consequences, calling for coordinated international measures to stop the attacks and ensure justice for victims.
Trump’s 20-point plan, unveiled on September 29, calls for the release of all "Israeli" captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt on Sunday for indirect negotiations with "Israel" after agreeing “in principle” to the proposal.
Read more: Hamas: Israeli bombing of Gaza exposes Netanyahu’s lies
Over 67,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023
Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed over 67,100 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, in relentless bombardments across the Gaza Strip. The attacks have rendered the enclave uninhabitable, causing starvation and disease among civilians.
HRW’s statement concluded that the responsibility to prevent further atrocities rests not only on the aggressor but on all governments committed to human rights and international law.
