Amnesty International called on Israel to respect the human rights of Palestinian refugees in a press release issued on Wednesday. The statement highlighted the mass forced displacement and destruction of civilian properties and infrastructure due to both the war in Gaza and Israel’s policies toward Palestinians.

Amnesty International stated that Palestinians are facing forced displacement in Rafah due to the imminent Israeli invasion and the intensifying ground and air operations recently. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported that more than six hundred thousand of Gaza’s population had been displaced in the week prior to the report. Calling for Palestinians to be granted their “right to return,” Amnesty International Senior Director for Research Advocacy Policy and Campaigns Erika Guevara Rosas contended that Israel’s system of apartheid – discriminatory possession of land and denial of access to rights – has subjected Palestinians to ever more imminent risk of genocide and famine.

This right to return would mean that any Palestinians who had been displaced would have the right to return to where they lived before being displaced, pursuant to Article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Amnesty International also called for international efforts to stop any more people from being forced from their homes and urged both parties to find a permanent ceasefire solution. This comes as Nakba Day, the anniversary of Palestinians leaving behind their land for Israel draws many people to protest the war and Israel’s general attitude towards the people of Palestine.