HRW accuses Israel of restricting Gaza water

JERUSALEM, Dec 19 (AFP): Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of committing "acts of genocide" in the Gaza Strip by damaging water infrastructure and cutting off supplies to civilians, calling on the international community to impose targeted sanctions.

In a new report, which focused specifically on water, the New York-based rights group detailed what it said were deliberate efforts by Israeli authorities "of a systematic nature" to deprive Gazans of water, which had "likely caused thousands of deaths... and will likely continue to cause deaths".

"Since October 2023, Israeli authorities have deliberately obstructed Palestinians' access to the adequate amount of water required for survival in the Gaza Strip," the report said.

Israel has steadfastly rejected previous similar accusations from rights groups, saying its actions in Gaza are legitimate military operations.

The HRW report detailed what the group said was the intentional damaging of water and sanitation infrastructure, including solar panels powering treatment plants, a reservoir and a spare parts warehouse, as well as the blocking of fuel for generators.

Israel hits ports,

energy sites

in Yemen

JERUSALEM, Dec 19 (AFP): Israel said Thursday it struck ports and energy infrastructure it alleges are used by Huthi rebels, after intercepting a missile fired by the group.

Israel's military said it "conducted precise strikes on Huthi military targets in Yemen-including ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa, which the Huthis have been using in ways that effectively contributed to their military actions."

The announcement came shortly after Israel said it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

Al-Masira, a media channel belonging to the Huthis, said a series of "aggressive raids" were launched in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah.

It reported raids that "targeted two central power plants" in Yemen's capital Sanaa, while in Hodeidah it said "the enemy launched four aggressive raids targeting the port... and two raids targeting" an oil facility.