Israel's War on Gaza Declared Genocide by World's Leading Genocide Scholars

Strategic Insights -

The world's leading genocide scholars have declared Israel's war on Gaza a genocide, making Israel the first country to be accused of committing this atrocity in the 21st century. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), a 500-member body of academics founded in 1994, passed a resolution stating that Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the definition of genocide under international law. The resolution, which was voted in by 86% of IAGS members, cites Israel's killing of over 63,500 people, wounding of over 160,000, and destruction of 90% of the housing infrastructure in Gaza as evidence of genocide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has declared Israel's war on Gaza a genocide, making Israel the first country to be accused of committing genocide in the 21st century.
  • The IAGS resolution was passed with 86% of its 500-member body of academics voting in favour, citing Israel's actions as meeting the definition of genocide under international law.
  • Israel has killed over 63,500 people and wounded over 160,000, and destroyed 90% of the housing infrastructure in Gaza, making it a war crime and a crime against humanity.
  • The IAGS has recognized several acts by Israel against Palestinians, including torture, arbitrary detention, sexual and reproductive violence, deliberate attacks on medical professionals, humanitarian aid workers, and journalists, deliberately depriving people of food, water and medicine, displacing 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, demolishing more than 90 percent of the housing infrastructure, killing entire multi-generational families, and maiming or injuring more than 50,000 children.
  • The UN has repeatedly denounced Israel's actions in Gaza, including a finding by the United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories that Israel's war methods are consistent with genocide.
  • Over 220 journalists have been killed or injured in the war on Gaza, with more than 50 media outlets protesting Israel's targeting of journalists.

Statistics:

  • Over 63,500 people have been killed in Israel's war on Gaza.
  • Over 160,000 people have been wounded.
  • 90% of the housing infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed.
  • 2.3 million Palestinians have been displaced.
  • More than 50,000 children have been maimed or injured.
  • 220 journalists have been killed or injured.
  • Over 50 media outlets have protested Israel's targeting of journalists.

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera: "Israel committing genocide in Gaza, scholars group says" (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/1/israel-committing-genocide-in-gaza-scholars-group-says)
  • Al Jazeera: "Israeli rights groups call the war on Gaza genocide for first time" (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/7/28/israeli-rights-groups-call-the-war-on-gaza-genocide-for-first-time)
  • Amnesty International: "Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza" (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2024/12/5/amnesty-international-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza)
  • International Association of Genocide Scholars: "IAGS Resolution on Gaza" (https://genocidescholars.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IAGS-Resolution-on-Gaza-FINAL.pdf)