The world's leading association of genocide scholars has declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
A resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) states that Israel's conduct meets the legal definition as laid out in the UN convention on genocide. The IAGS is the world's largest professional association of genocide scholars and includes a number of Holocaust experts. Out of its 500 members, 28% took part in the vote, and 86% of those who voted supported the resolution.
The IAGS presents a litany of actions undertaken by Israel throughout the 22-month-long war, which it recognizes as constituting genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In a summary of Israeli policies and actions, the declaration notes the widespread attacks on both the personnel and facilities needed for survival, including the healthcare, aid, and educational sectors.
Among many other elements, it notes the 50,000 children killed or injured by Israel, as highlighted by UN aid organization Unicef, impacting 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. Furthermore, it draws attention to statements by Israeli leaders that dehumanize Palestinians in Gaza, referring to them as the enemy and promising to 'flatten Gaza' and turn it into 'hell'.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the report as based on 'Hamas lies' and poor research, calling it an 'embarrassment to the legal profession'. Israel has defended its military actions as necessary for self-defense against Hamas' initial attacks.
The 1948 UN Genocide Convention defines genocide as crimes committed 'with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group'.
This declaration comes amid reports of significant casualties in Gaza, with the Hamas-run Ministry of Health stating that over 63,000 people have been killed and around 160,660 injured during the conflict. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as UN and aid organizations highlight issues like famine and disruption of essential services, attributed to the ongoing military actions and blockades by Israel.
A resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) states that Israel's conduct meets the legal definition as laid out in the UN convention on genocide. The IAGS is the world's largest professional association of genocide scholars and includes a number of Holocaust experts. Out of its 500 members, 28% took part in the vote, and 86% of those who voted supported the resolution.
The IAGS presents a litany of actions undertaken by Israel throughout the 22-month-long war, which it recognizes as constituting genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. In a summary of Israeli policies and actions, the declaration notes the widespread attacks on both the personnel and facilities needed for survival, including the healthcare, aid, and educational sectors.
Among many other elements, it notes the 50,000 children killed or injured by Israel, as highlighted by UN aid organization Unicef, impacting 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. Furthermore, it draws attention to statements by Israeli leaders that dehumanize Palestinians in Gaza, referring to them as the enemy and promising to 'flatten Gaza' and turn it into 'hell'.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the report as based on 'Hamas lies' and poor research, calling it an 'embarrassment to the legal profession'. Israel has defended its military actions as necessary for self-defense against Hamas' initial attacks.
The 1948 UN Genocide Convention defines genocide as crimes committed 'with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group'.
This declaration comes amid reports of significant casualties in Gaza, with the Hamas-run Ministry of Health stating that over 63,000 people have been killed and around 160,660 injured during the conflict. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate as UN and aid organizations highlight issues like famine and disruption of essential services, attributed to the ongoing military actions and blockades by Israel.
