Several countries, including Syria, Iraq, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, and the OIC have accused Israel of “forced displacement” or “forcible transfer” of the Palestinians in Gaza, referring to Israel’s evacuation warnings. In general, International Humanitarian Law prohibits the forcible transfer of civilians in occupied territory in both international and non-international armed conflicts “unless the security of the civilians involved or imperative military reasons so demand.”[1]  These countries ignore that critical exception to the rule which clearly applies here.[2] Evacuation is a tool that has served to protect civilians in many conflicts, including in World War II, and more recently in the Ukraine war.[3]

Moreover, parties to a conflict have a duty to take feasible precautions to “avoid or minimize incidental civilian losses.”[4] Therefore, warning civilians to evacuate an active combat zone for their own safety is not forced displacement, but rather compliance with the requirement to take precautions to minimize civilian harm by giving “advanced warning.”[5]

Evacuations should not displace civilians outside of the territory and should not be forced.[6] Israel’s evacuations comply with these requirements as Gazans have not been evacuated outside of Gaza. In addition, although often referred to as evacuation “orders,” Israel’s warnings to Gaza civilians are not compulsory and Gazans are free to ignore them. Despite the warnings, some 350,000 to 400,000 Gazans chose not to evacuate[7] and many also returned North during the late November ceasefire.[8]

This false accusation, which misstates international law and misrepresents Israel’s lawful advanced warnings as violations, has no purpose other than to demonize Israel.