Forced displacement ‘absolutely forbidden’ under int’l law: Former UN expert
Michael Lynk, a former UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, has stressed that Gaza is already considered under international law and by the UN to be occupied by Israel despite the withdrawal of settlers and troops in 2005.
“Not because there are boots on the ground by the Israeli army but because Israel exercises what in an international legal test is ‘effective control’,” Lynk told Al Jazeera. “That it is able to determine who or what got into the Gaza Strip … and who or what left the Gaza Strip.”
As such, international humanitarian law remains in force in Gaza, Lynk explained. “You will not hear any Israeli spokesperson using the term occupation, and yet the rest of the world will call it an occupation and say that Israel will have to abide by the strict terms of international law,” he said.
Forced displacement is “absolutely forbidden” under international law unless done on a temporary basis in order to keep civilians safe during a conflict, Lynk added.
“You know and I know over the last six months, we’ve heard constant refrain coming both from the United States and from Israel with respect to wanting to see the Palestinian population in Gaza either ‘thinned out’ … or perhaps removed altogether,” he said.
“All of that would be certainly a war crime, quite likely also a crime against humanity. And if it’s part of a larger aim to try to destroy a people, in whole or in part, then it’s also genocide.”
Israeli plan for Gaza will go ahead unless US changes tack: Expert
Michael Lynk, the former UN expert, says Netanyahu likely suspects that as long as he has support from the United States, “he can do what he wants”.
“I would be surprised if you see the rest of the international community doing very much beyond perhaps threatening weapons sales suspensions or threatening free trade suspensions. That would be meaningful,” Lynk said.
“But unless and until the United States decides to break with this, I think this full invasion and occupation of Gaza will go ahead.”
The US has provided Israel with unwavering diplomatic and military support for decades, funnelling billions of dollars worth of weapons to the Israeli military since it launched its bombardment of Gaza in October 2023.
Washington has also blocked efforts at the UN and other international arenas to end the Israeli war or hold Israeli officials accountable for alleged war crimes against Palestinians.
Trump says ‘looking into’ reports Somaliland open to taking in Palestinians
Trump has been asked to comment on reports that Somaliland expressed an openness to taking in Palestinians displaced from Gaza in exchange for US recognition of the area’s independence.
“We’re looking into that right now. Good question, actually, and another complex one, as you know. But we’re working on that right now – Somaliland,” the US president said during a news conference at the White House.
As we’ve been reporting, Trump said in February that he wants Palestinians to leave Gaza so that the US can “own” the territory and turn it into the “riviera of the Middle East”.
Palestinians have rejected efforts to force them out of Gaza, while human rights groups have condemned such a push as amounting to ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law.
