Thread by @Aizenberg55

🧵@hrw piece claiming Israel intends to starve Gazans for war is propaganda masking as scholarship but covered by NY Times. Like all HRW "reports" on Israel it is filled with lies, errors, misrepresentations & omissions. Here is a detailed breakdown: 1/

hrw.org/news/2023/12/1…

The core lie is presented upfront claiming that for 2 months Israel has deprived Gaza with GOAL of starving Gaza incredibly omitting ANY detail on the many 1000s of trucks that have entered Gaza. Food & aid has been at ~90% of pre-war levels and FAR more recently. 2/

From Oct 21-early Dec truckloads of aid were 3,499 or about 90% of pre-war 2022 levels. Israel opened Keren Shalom to move truckloads up further to ~190/day. HRW does not mention any of this in their “report” – not one number or statistic to evidence their claims! 3/

Recent trucks of aid now exceed pre-war levels at ~190/day, deliberately unmentioned by HRW, not a SINGLE statistic is analyzed to back claim of “intent to starve.” Strange to allow in 2,740 tons of goods daily when your goal is to starve. Because it's a total lie by HRW. 4/

HRW says nothing at all, zero, on the numerous documented examples of Hamas stealing aid. Again, HRW whitewashes Hamas as it always does, it has no responsibility or obligations. HRW's crack research team cannot seem to find these videos . 5/

HRW obsesses on Israel’s refusal to let in fuel but cannot admit fuel powers Hamas tunnels (which HRW pretends don’t exist). HRW ignores Geneva Article 23 that says Israel can halt ANY aid if fears Hamas might take it, which it has. Article 23 demolishes HRW’s entire thesis. 6/

HRW next sees Israel's "intent to starve" Gazans due to destruction of some farmland & orchards. Of course HRW simply cannot find ANY reason why. Tunnels, rockets, Hamas RPG positions do not exist in HRW’s fantasy world. Several examples shown next. 7/

Hamas uses the cover of the orchards and farms, many located on the edges of Gazan cities close to the Israeli border to fire rockets. There are many documented examples. To HRW these rockets are always irrelevant. Israeli intent to destroy rockets is illegitimate to HRW. 8/

Here is another documented example. HRW willfully ignores Hamas double war crimes – using civilian areas to fire rockets at Israeli civilian cities – and twists them to blame Israel of criminally bombing the same orchard as intention to starve, like an ancient blood libel. 9/

HRW posts many photos of destroyed farms in Beit Hanoun again claiming IDF INTENDS to STARVE Gaza. Turns out largest Hamas attack tunnel yet was found here. Incredibly, a photo HRW posts of destroyed farmland is exactly where this Hamas tunnel was found! No shame by HRW. 10/

Next, another of many HRW lies typical of its writing on Israel to amplify libel. HRW states as fact that Israel “has destroyed more than half of the civilian infrastructure” in Gaza with link to UN report; but UN says according to HAMAS 60% “reportedly destroyed or damaged” 11/

A mistake you say? No, it's far too common. But HRW’s crack research team also seem to "miss" this UN report (issued well prior to HRW's piece) based on actual UNOSAT data that only 18% of Gaza structures damaged or destroyed (only 5% "destroyed" according to UN). 12/

HRW next charges Israel with “unlawful attacks on medical facilities…” as part of starvation goals. HRW amazingly cannot find ANY evidence of Hamas using hospitals for hostage taking, firing positions, tunnels. You can Google the videos. Simply more blood libel by HRW. 13/

Next HRW has to prove actual INTENT by Israel, not just that Gazans lack food, to prove war crime of DELIBERATE starvation. In this regard HRW fails badly using quote snippets & ignoring far more statements of intent to provide food. HRW does not show any counter statement. 14/

First, Defense Minister Gallant who said quote below on 10/9. Gallant was referring to closure of Israeli based supplies and importantly, IHL does NOT require Israel to supply Gaza. Gallant was closing all Israeli entry into Gaza – but not via Egypt (this just changed). 15/

The next best evidence HRW has of Israel intent to starve is Ben Gvir. Of course nothing he said was enacted. For HRW words speak louder than actions. 100s of contrary statements do not make it into HRW's report. 16/

Then HRW offers more quotes from Israeli officials about fuel. Again and again, zero mention of how fuel powers Hamas tunnels and is stolen by Hamas. No mention that IHL specifically permits Israel to halt fuel if “fears” Hamas will take it. 17/

HRW near the end admits that Netanyahu believed humanitarian aid benefits the war effort but somehow this does not count as “intent” NOT to starve the population. Somehow this quote does not undermine the HRW argument. 18/

COGAT is the unit tasked with facilitating aid into Gaza and it’s intent to provide food is clear, demolishing HRW’s fabricated thesis & libel. This one simple chart issued by COGAT outlining recent aid is not mentioned in any way by HRW. Of course not. END