Gaza Genocide

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The Gaza Genocide, also known as the Palestinian Genocide, is a campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing currently taking place in the Gaza Strip as part of the ongoing Gaza War. Both the genocide and the war began in retaliation to a series of attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Background

According to a United Nations special committee and a number of experts and rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian people during its ongoing invasion and bombing of the Gaza Strip as part of the Gaza war. Various observers, including the UN Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices and the United Nations Special Rapporteur, have cited statements by senior Israeli officials that may indicate an "intent to destroy" Gaza's population in whole or in part, a necessary condition for the legal threshold of genocide to be met.

War crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Israel Defense Forces include the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, attacks on civilians in densely populated areas (including bombings of hospitals and medical facilities, refugee camps, schools and educational institutions, and municipal services); the torture and executions of civilians; sexual violence including rape and gang rape of men, women and children; and genocide. Further war crime charges against Israel include forced evacuations, mistreatment and torture of Palestinian prisoners, and the destruction of cultural heritage. Humanitarian organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, B'tselem, and Oxfam, as well as human rights groups and experts, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry and United Nations special rapporteurs, have documented these actions.

By mid-August 2024, it was confirmed that the Israeli military's actions had caused the deaths of at least 40,000 people in the Gaza Strip—1 out of every 59 people—averaging 148 deaths per day. Most of the victims are civilians, of whom at least 50% are women and children. Compared to other recent global conflicts, the numbers of known deaths of journalists, humanitarian and health workers, and children are among the highest. Thousands of more dead bodies are thought to be under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The Lancet has estimated more than 70,000 deaths due to traumatic injuries. The number of injured is greater than 100,000; Gaza has the most child amputees per capita in the world. As of August 2024, only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were partially functional; 84% of its health centers have been destroyed or suffered damage. An enforced Israeli blockade heavily contributed to starvation and the threat of famine in Gaza, while some Israeli civilians have blocked or attacked aid convoys delivering humanitarian supplies across the border.

Early in the conflict, Israel cut off Gaza's water and electricity supply. Israel has also destroyed numerous culturally significant buildings, such as all of Gaza's 12 universities, 80% of its schools, and numerous mosques, churches, museums, and libraries.

The government of South Africa has instituted proceedings, South Africa v. Israel, against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging a violation of the Genocide Convention. In an initial ruling, the ICJ held that South Africa was entitled to bring its case against Israel, while Palestinians were recognised to have a right to protection from genocide. The court ordered Israel to observe its obligations under the Genocide Convention by taking all measures within its power to prevent the commission of acts of genocide, to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and to allow basic humanitarian services into Gaza. The court also later ordered Israel to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza and to prevent genocidal acts during the Rafah offensive. The Israeli government rejected South Africa's allegations.

In May 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including using starvation as a weapon of war.