from AHMED MOOLA in Cairo, EgyptCAIRO, (CAJ News) – THE home demolitions and forced evictions by the military in north-eastern Egypt could amount to war crimes. Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimates that more than 100 000 residents- about a quarter of the total population- have been displaced during the armed conflict in North Sinai governorate between 2013 and 2020. HRW said thousands of these evictions and demolitions appear to violate the laws of war, which prohibit such actions except for absolute military necessity or to ensure the security of the civilians involved. Egyptian military demolitions in Sinai began as the conflict intensified in late 2013 and escalated in October 2014. Al-Sisi’s administration has pledged to resettle those displaced but the promises have, according to HRW, not been fulfilled.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 21, 2021 18:44 UTC