A study conducted by Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) reveals that Belarus, under the direction of President Alexander Lukashenko, has collaborated with Russia in forcibly transferring over 2,400 Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to Belarus. The children, aged between six and 17, have been subjected to re-education, including military training. The report highlights the joint involvement of Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin in funding and overseeing the deportations. International humanitarian law prohibits the transportation of children across borders without parental consent. The United States has condemned the actions and vowed to pursue accountability, while Russia denies involvement. The exact number of children remaining in Belarus is unknown.
The Israeli Ministry of Intelligence has recommended the forced and permanent transfer of the 2.2 million Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, according to a leaked document. The document, dated October 13, 2023, proposes a full population transfer as the preferred course of action and calls on Israel to enlist international support for the endeavor. While the existence of the document does not necessarily indicate that its recommendations are being considered by Israel's defense establishment, it reflects how the idea of forced population transfer is being raised to the level of official policy discussions. The plan has been met with strong opposition, and the chances of its implementation are considered negligible.
The United Nations human rights office has warned that Israel's call for the evacuation of over 1.1 million civilians in Gaza ahead of an expected ground invasion could potentially breach international law by forcibly transferring civilians. Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza, coupled with the closure of border crossings, has made it impossible for evacuees to access basic necessities. The UN has expressed concern that this evacuation order, combined with the complete siege on Gaza, may amount to a forcible transfer of civilians, which is a crime against humanity. The Israeli government has urged residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes and travel south, citing intensified fighting against Hamas militants. However, Hamas has dismissed the order and urged citizens to stay.
Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, former EU ambassador to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, warns that Israel's forced transfer of Palestinians in Gaza, as ordered by the Israeli military, could be considered a war crime under international law. He emphasizes that no matter the actions of Hamas, Israel cannot justify the use of lethal force without distinction and proportionality against the Palestinian population. Von Burgsdorff calls on the international community to hold Israel accountable for violating international conventions and pledges to respect humanitarian rights. He also highlights the need for Egypt to open its borders and ensure the safety and well-being of displaced Gazans. The key objectives now are to deescalate the situation, ensure humanitarian access and exit, free hostages, and protect the people of Gaza.
Russia has reportedly "received" over 700,000 Ukrainian children since launching its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. The majority of these children arrived in Russia with their parents or relatives, while 1,500 orphans were evacuated from the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, with 380 being adopted by Russian parents. The report does not mention orphans from other Ukrainian territories, but it states that 52 orphans from the Russian-occupied Kherson region were temporarily transported to annexed Crimea. The forced transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia is considered a war crime by a UN-backed investigation, and both the children's rights commissioner and President Vladimir Putin are under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.
