Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world's leading experts say

In a powerful and unprecedented move, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), the world's preeminent academic body on the subject, has formally declared that Israel's military actions and policies in the Gaza Strip meet the legal definition of genocide. The resolution, passed with overwhelming support from the association's 500 members, marks a significant moment in the global discourse surrounding the ongoing conflict, providing a definitive academic and legal assessment that has previously been the subject of contentious political and public debate. This formal determination by leading experts in international law and genocide studies adds substantial weight to the allegations and could have profound implications for Israel's international standing and for future legal proceedings.
The IAGS resolution, which was adopted on Monday, outlines in meticulous detail how Israel's campaign in Gaza fulfills the criteria for genocide as defined by Article II of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The three-page document cites several key actions that, when taken together, constitute a pattern of genocidal behavior. These include the "deliberate attacks against and killing of civilians including children," the "starvation" of the population, the "deprivation of humanitarian aid, water, fuel, and other items essential to the survival of the population," and the "forced displacement of the population." The association's findings are based on a rigorous examination of evidence, including reports from human rights organizations, United Nations bodies, and firsthand accounts from the ground.
The legal definition of genocide hinges on the "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such." While proving this intent is notoriously difficult, the IAGS resolution asserts that the evidence from Gaza, including public statements from Israeli officials and the systematic nature of the destruction, is sufficient to meet this high legal threshold. The resolution makes a crucial distinction, arguing that the Israeli military's actions are not simply a response to Hamas but are "also targeted against the civilian population" with the intent of destroying the Palestinian people as a group. This determination moves the debate beyond a discussion of war crimes or crimes against humanity and into the realm of a specific and grave international crime.
This landmark declaration by the IAGS comes amidst a backdrop of escalating international concern and condemnation. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is already hearing a case brought by South Africa alleging that Israel is committing genocide, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. While these legal processes are ongoing and a final ruling from the ICJ could take years, the IAGS resolution provides a powerful, immediate, and authoritative academic consensus that will likely influence future legal and diplomatic actions. The resolution's findings are a direct and public challenge to Israel's consistent denial of these accusations and its assertion that its actions are purely defensive and in line with international law.
The IAGS, which has a long history of recognizing genocides, including in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Myanmar, is seen as a highly credible and non-political authority on the subject. Its members are scholars and academics with deep expertise in the legal, historical, and sociological aspects of genocide. This makes their resolution particularly difficult for Israel and its allies to dismiss as a politically motivated attack. The group's formal declaration is likely to add significant pressure on governments around the world to reassess their relationships with Israel and to take stronger action to prevent further atrocities. The resolution's call on Israel to "immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity" serves as a stark and urgent warning from the world's leading experts.
The situation on the ground in Gaza remains catastrophic. As the IAGS released its resolution, reports from the UN-backed global hunger monitor confirmed that famine has taken hold in parts of the territory, a direct consequence of the blockade and military campaign. The resolution specifically highlights the deprivation of food, water, and medicine as a key component of the genocidal acts. With more than 63,000 Palestinians killed, over 90% of the housing infrastructure destroyed, and nearly the entire population displaced, the scale of the destruction is unprecedented. The IAGS's declaration is not merely an academic statement; it is a profound moral and legal judgment on a conflict that has caused untold suffering and continues to unfold with no end in sight.
Source@BBC