Israel’s already rock-bottom reputation has taken another massive blow as the world’s leading association of genocide scholars has declared that Tel Aviv is indeed committing a genocide in Gaza.
A resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) stated that Israel’s conduct meets the legal definition as laid out in the UN convention on genocide.
It also recognises that: “Since the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023, which itself constitutes international crimes, the government of Israel has engaged in systematic and widespread crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, including indiscriminate and deliberate attacks against the civilians and civilian infrastructure (hospitals, homes, commercial buildings, etc.)”
Among many other elements, it notes the 50,000 children killed or injured by Israel, as highlighted by UN aid organisation Unicef, impacts the ability of Palestinians in Gaza to survive as a group and regenerate.
The resolution also highlights the support among Israeli leaders for the forced expulsion of all Palestinians from Gaza, alongside Israel’s near-total demolition of housing in the territory.
The IAGS also recognises the statements by Israeli leaders dehumanising Palestinians in Gaza, characterising them all as the enemy, alongside promises to “flatten Gaza” and turn it into “hell,” as further evidence.
The resolution also issues a desperate plea for Israel to immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
“(The resolution) calls upon the government of Israel to immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza, including deliberate attacks against and killing of civilians including children; starvation; deprivation of humanitarian aid, water, fuel, and other items essential to the survival of the population; sexual and reproductive violence; and forced displacement of the population.”
Out of the IAGS 500 members, 28% took part in the vote. Of those who voted, 86% supported the resolution.
Melanie O’Brien, the IAGS president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, said the resolution was “a definitive statement from experts in the field of genocide studies that what is going on on the ground in Gaza is genocide.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded to the report claiming it was based on “Hamas lies” and poor research, calling it an “embarrassment to the legal profession.”
A spokesperson added that it was Israel itself which is the “victim of genocide.”
Despite the overwhelming evidence, including videos shared on social media, eyewitness accounts and expert opinion, Israel has regularly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and claim they are justified as a means of self-defence.
Israel also claims that it does not target civilians on purpose despite the vast loss of life of women and children.
Several other prominent human rights groups have also described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
In August, some 500 UN staff members published an internal letter pleading that their leadership acknowledge the genocide going on in Gaza by Israel.
The staff members at the New York-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) argued in the letter that failure to do so would undermine the UN’s credibility.
The UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice, is currently considering a case brought by South Africa in 2023 that argues that Israel is committing genocide. The ICJ has not yet made a determination on the subject and has granted Israel an extension until January 2026 to present its defence.
Israel has accused the case of having antisemitic motivations, calling it a “blood libel.”
However, the IAGS claims their resolution has no bearing on any case put forward to an international court.
According to the Gaza-based health ministry, more than 63,557 Palestinians have been killed, and 160,660 others wounded in Israel’s genocide in Gaza since October 2023. The respected medical journal, The Lancet, estimates the figure to be significantly higher.
