Israel-Iran Conflict: Civilian Protection Urgently Needed
As the Iran-Israel conflict intensifies, Amnesty international urgently calls for civilian protection amidst escalating threats and rising casualties. News Directory 3 reports on the conflict’s impact, highlighting the impact of internet shutdowns in Iran, hindering access to crucial information for civilians, while also addressing freedom of expression concerns in Israel. Israeli officials issued broad evacuation warnings, creating widespread panic, and Amnesty stresses the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian law. discover what’s next.
Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates: Civilian Toll Rises Amid Threats
Updated June 18, 2025
As military actions intensify between Iran and Israel, Amnesty International is calling on both nations to respect international humanitarian law.The call comes amid increasing reports of civilian casualties and escalating threats since the conflict began June 13.
Amnesty International is specifically urging Iranian authorities to release arbitrarily detained human rights defenders and relocate prisoners from areas vulnerable to Israeli attacks. The organization also voiced concerns about the fate of individuals on death row for similar charges.
Recent actions by Israeli officials, including Prime minister benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister israel Katz, have heightened tensions. Over the past few days, they have issued alarming threats and broad evacuation warnings targeting millions of civilians in Tehran, a city of approximately 10 million people. The warnings, sometimes issued in the middle of the night, have caused widespread confusion, particularly regarding whether they applied to the city or the larger Tehran province, home to around 19 million.
On June 16, katz threatened via X that tehran residents woudl “pay the price” for the Iranian authorities’ actions. Shortly after, the Israeli military’s Persian-language spokesperson released a video warning civilians to evacuate Tehran’s District Three, an area of roughly 30 square kilometers with over 350,000 residents. The video included a map indicating danger zones, but lacked specific details about targeted locations, leaving residents uncertain about wich areas to avoid.
Prior to these warnings, the Israeli army issued another broad warning in Persian, instructing people across Iran to “promptly leave areas…[housing] military weapons manufacturing facilities and their support institutions.” This statement triggered panic and confusion, as the locations of these facilities are not public knowledge.
Amnesty International emphasized that even with evacuation warnings, Israel remains obligated to minimize harm to civilians. Millions in Tehran are unable to evacuate due to various constraints, and Israel must take all feasible precautions to protect them.
Adding to the alarm, U.S.President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social early June 17, Tehran time: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the White House amplified this message on X, amid reports that the U.S. might join Israel in striking Iran.
In response to the Israeli warnings, Iranian state media reported that Iranian armed forces issued warnings urging residents of Tel Aviv to evacuate.A video aired on state media featured Reza Sayed, spokesperson of the Dialog Center of the General Staff of the armed Forces, stating, “Leave the occupied territories…as they will undoubtedly become uninhabitable for you in the future…Do not allow the criminal regime to use you as human shields.”
While these Iranian warnings have not caused the same level of chaos in Israel,largely due to the Iron Dome defense system and available shelters,some civilians have been killed in Iranian missile strikes.Israeli civil society groups are urging the government to address the lack of protected spaces for non-Jewish Israeli citizens.
Amnesty International stressed that threats of violence designed to terrorize civilian populations are prohibited under international law.Overly general warnings cannot substitute for clear instructions that enable civilians to move away from military objectives.
In Iran, authorities have disrupted internet access and instant messaging applications, hindering millions from accessing essential information and communicating with loved ones. “Access to the Internet is essential to protect human rights, especially in times of armed conflict,” said Agnès Callamard of Amnesty International.”The Iranian authorities must immediately ensure full restoration of internet and communication services in all of Iran.”
Israeli authorities are also reportedly using security pretexts to target individuals over social media posts, raising concerns about freedom of expression. Callamard added, “Israeli authorities must refrain from using military escalations…as a further pretext to crack down on freedom of expression, disproportionately targeting Palestinian citizens of Israel.”
What’s next
Amnesty International continues to monitor the situation closely, urging both Iran and Israel to prioritize civilian protection and adhere to international law to prevent further escalation of the conflict and minimize human suffering.