As Israel has pursued a brutal military offensive against the population of Gaza, debate over whether Israel’s actions constitute genocide has been increasingly prevalent. Since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, over 57,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, prompting concerns among international observers regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. There are countless acts that people claim Israel’s military strategies constitute genocidal conduct under the Genocide Convention. They cite the high civilian death toll and the blockade that has been placed on Gaza as significant contributors to this judgment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went further, making incendiary declarations that evoke the historical antecedents of genocide. He even called for the destruction of the biblical nation of Amalek, calling for the slaughter of “men and women, children and infants.” This type of rhetoric should set off alarm bells regarding the purpose behind military operations that have resulted in the disproportionate loss of civilian life. Nearly 70% of those murdered in Gaza are women and children. This shocking statistic points to an emerging and extremely troubling ethical and legal standard for Israel’s military operations.
The civilian death toll in Gaza has now climbed over 8,000. This figure has now exceeded the number of civilians murdered by Bosnian Serb forces at the Srebrenica massacre in 1994, legally defined as genocide. These side-by-sides help to illustrate just how dire the situation has become. Second, they challenge our understanding of the violence being directed at Palestinian civilians.
Human rights defenders have long argued that Israel demonstrates a persistent disregard for Palestinian life. They highlight weaponry and tactics that Israel employs as unmistakable indicators of this mindset. The use of these 2,000-pound bombs and targeted strikes on military sites have led to extensive civilian casualties. The Genocide Convention specifically prohibits actions with the intent to destroy a group “in whole or in part,” leading to calls for international accountability.
Israel has imposed an effective and illegal blockade on Gaza. This measure has drastically limited access to much-needed supplies, such as food and medical assistance. This siege has only exacerbated the suffering of civilians who have already been trapped in a life as human shields for months under such military operations. As buildings crumble, at least 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been leveled. The humanitarian crisis deepens, prompting increased scrutiny from global organizations and governments.
These new actions and statements from Israeli leaders add to the troubling narrative that undermines Israel’s claims of military necessity. Far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir have openly called for the mass displacement of Palestinians. Stripping out the rhetoric, their statements suggest a coordinated effort to drive out the demographic majority of their region. Moreover, Netanyahu has threatened to drive 2 million Palestinians from Gaza against their will, deepening claims of genocidal intent.
The historical context of genocide, including events like the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, underscores the gravity of such allegations. In each of these tragedies, targeted communities were intentionally removed through violence because of who they were. The Rwandan genocide led to the systematic slaughter of some 800,000 Tutsis in the spring of 1994. The international community’s negligence to take action during these mass atrocities is a stark reminder of what happens when the world looks away.
“This rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved.” – NBC News
Just today, the civilian death toll rose above 1300 and reports keep pouring in about large-scale destruction. Finally, observers are calling for accountability through a serious investigation into Israel’s actions throughout this conflict. The potential for an effective international response depends on the characterization of these actions under international law.
The need for action to repair these devastating fissures is emphasized by historical comparisons with other genocides. In 2017, military forces in Myanmar carried out the mass execution of nearly 10,000 Rohingya men, women, and children. This vicious act created one of the world’s largest refugee crises in recent history. Taken together, these examples show a deeply troubling trend. Targeted violence against particular ethnic or national groups leads to massive refugee crises and horrific civilian death tolls.