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Do the violations associated with the war in Gaza amount to a Genocide

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by Amanda Nelson

The term “Gaza genocide” refers to allegations and findings that Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. These allegations have been made by various United Nations bodies, human rights organizations, and experts.

  1. United Nations Findings:
    • The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) has concluded that Israel has committed at least three of the constitutive acts of genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Statements by high-level Israeli military and government officials have been cited as evidence of genocidal intent 1.
    • The UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are consistent with the characteristics of genocide 1.
  2. International Court of Justice (ICJ):
    • On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application with the ICJ, accusing Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in Gaza. The ICJ issued provisional measures on January 26, 2024, ordering Israel to prevent the commission of acts within Article II of the Genocide Convention and to ensure that Israeli military forces do not commit any of these acts 1.
  3. Human Rights Organizations:
    • Amnesty International has concluded that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Their report documents the systematic destruction of essential infrastructure, including universities, schools, mosques, churches, museums, and libraries 23.
    • Human Rights Watch and other rights organizations have also accused Israel of committing genocide, citing the destruction of maternal and reproductive healthcare facilities, which is considered a genocidal act under the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention 24.
  4. Cultural and Infrastructural Destruction:
    • Israel has been accused of destroying culturally significant buildings and infrastructure in Gaza, including all 12 universities and 80% of schools. This destruction is seen as part of a broader strategy to undermine the Palestinian population’s ability to sustain itself 2.
  5. International Reactions:
    • The international community has been called upon to recognize the situation in Gaza as genocide and to take action to prevent further atrocities. The UN Human Rights Council and other bodies have urged states to examine their relationships with Israel to avoid complicity in these crimes 5.

The allegations of genocide in Gaza are supported by various forms of evidence, including statements by officials, reports from human rights organizations, and findings from international bodies. Here are some key pieces of evidence:

  1. Statements by Israeli Officials:
    • Amnesty International identified 22 statements made by senior Israeli officials that appeared to call for or justify genocidal acts. These statements provide direct evidence of genocidal intent. For example, some officials and soldiers have been documented using language that calls for the erasure of Gaza or making it uninhabitable 7.
  2. Destruction of Civilian Infrastructure:
    • Israel has been accused of systematically destroying essential civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including all 12 universities, 80% of schools, and numerous mosques, churches, museums, and libraries. This destruction is seen as part of a broader strategy to undermine the Palestinian population’s ability to sustain itself 8.
  3. Targeting of Reproductive Healthcare:
    • UN experts have accused Israel of carrying out genocidal acts through the systematic destruction of maternal and reproductive healthcare facilities. This includes the destruction of maternity wards and fertility clinics, which is considered a strategy to prevent births among the Palestinian population, a legal definition of genocide 9.
  4. High Civilian Casualties:
    • Between October 7, 2023, and May 1, 2024, Israel killed at least 34,000 Palestinians and injured over 78,000 in Gaza, comprising over 5% of Gaza’s population. Nore recent figures indicate that Israel has killed more than 48,000 people and injured more than 100,000 people as of the end of February 2025. Amnesty International documented genocidal acts of killing and causing serious mental and bodily harm to Palestinians in Gaza by reviewing investigations into 15 air strikes that killed at least 334 civilians, including 141 children, with no evidence that these strikes were directed at military objectives 710.
  5. UN Reports and Findings:
    • The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories presented a report titled ‘Anatomy of a Genocide,’ which concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The report highlights the systematic nature of the assaults and the intent behind them 11.
  6. Human Rights Reports:
    • Amnesty International’s report, ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza,’ is based on nine months of research, including interviews with 212 people and analysis of visual and digital evidence. The report concludes that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide in Gaza 13.

These pieces of evidence collectively support the allegations of genocide in Gaza, highlighting the systematic and intentional nature of the actions taken against the Palestinian population. Yet, Western governments still refuse to accept the facts and and have continued to provide Israeli leaders, including the ones indicted by the ICC, with political and military support. Their denial of the Gaza Genocide when many of them called the war in Ukraine a genocide and supplied Ukrainian leaders with weapons to resist what they called Russian invasion raises very serious questions about their commitment to human rights norms and the rule of law.

The differing responses of Western governments to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza can be attributed to several factors, including political alliances, historical contexts, and the nature of the conflicts themselves. Here are some key points:

  1. Political Alliances and Interests:
    • Ukraine: Western governments, particularly the United States and European countries, have strong political and strategic interests in supporting Ukraine against Russia. The conflict in Ukraine is seen as a direct challenge to Western security and the post-Cold War order. The swift recognition of Russia’s actions as genocide aligns with Western efforts to isolate and punish Russia for its aggression 14.
    • Gaza: Conversely, many Western governments have long-standing alliances with Israel, which is seen as a key ally in the Middle East. The United States, in particular, provides significant military and political support to Israel. This alliance influences how Western governments perceive and respond to the conflict in Gaza. Critics argue that this support makes Western governments complicit in the alleged genocide in Gaza 1516.
  2. International Law and Accountability:
    • Ukraine: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been quick to investigate and issue arrest warrants related to the conflict in Ukraine, including for Russian President Vladimir Putin. This has reinforced the narrative of Russian genocide 14.
    • Gaza: The ICC has been slower to act on the situation in Gaza, and its investigations have faced significant political challenges. This has contributed to a lack of international consensus on the application of the term “genocide” to the conflict in Gaza 18.
  3. Media and Public Perception:
    • Ukraine: The war in Ukraine has received extensive media coverage, with widespread reporting of Russian atrocities. This has helped to shape public opinion and political responses in the West 14.
    • Gaza: The conflict in Gaza has also received significant media attention, but the narrative is often more contested. Some Western media outlets and governments have been accused of downplaying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the role of Western support for Israel in the conflict 18.

However, the US government under Trump, is moving fast to end the war in Ukraine, while continuing to send weapons to Israel and enabling it to force Palestinians in Gaza out adds another level of bias and discrimination. Moreover, President Trump’s statement about removing Palestinians from Gaza and the subsequent actions by Israeli officials can indeed be seen as evidence supporting allegations of genocide, a crime typically hard to prove due to the difficulty of determining intent. However, in this case, not only intent can be ascertained, but the actions that are taken in connection to statements make it crystal clear that Palestinians in Gaza are subjected to ethnic cleansing.

  1. Intent to Remove a Population:
    • Trump’s proposal to relocate two million Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, aligns with the definition of genocide, which includes acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The forced displacement of a population from their homeland is a clear indicator of such intent 1920.
  2. Support from Israeli Officials:
    • Israeli officials have echoed Trump’s statements and have begun planning for the removal of Gazans. This coordination between a foreign government (the U.S.) and Israeli authorities strengthens the case that these actions are part of a systematic plan to displace the Palestinian population, which is a key element of genocide 21.
  3. Denial of Right of Return:
    • Trump’s plan explicitly states that the displaced Palestinians would have no right of return to Gaza. This denial of the right to return to their homes further supports the intent to permanently remove the Palestinian population from Gaza, which is a component of ethnic cleansing and genocide 22.
  4. International Reactions:
    • The condemnation of Trump’s proposal by Middle Eastern leaders and international organizations highlights the grave nature of the proposed actions. The characterization of the plan as ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law by Arab leaders and the Palestinian Authority further supports the allegations of genocide 23.
  5. Military Support:
    • Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would send some weapons to Israel can be seen as material support for the implementation of this plan. This military aid could be used to enforce the displacement of Palestinians, further implicating the U.S. in the alleged genocide 24.

Trump’s statement and the subsequent actions by Israeli officials provide strong evidence supporting the allegations of genocide in Gaza. The intent to forcibly displace the Palestinian population, the denial of their right to return, and the coordinated efforts between the U.S. and Israeli authorities all align with the definitions and criteria of genocide as outlined in international law.

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