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Leading Genocide Scholars Declare Israel's Actions in Gaza Constitute Genocide

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A leading group of genocide scholars has formally declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing Article II of the United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948). The declaration comes as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, with reports of air strikes, artillery shelling, and the use of explosive-laden robots to demolish buildings. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) passed a resolution, calling on Israel to immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza.

Key Takeaways:

  • The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has passed a resolution declaring that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide in Article II of the United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948).
  • The resolution stated that Israel's policies and actions in Gaza included torture, arbitrary detention, and sexual and reproductive violence, deliberate attacks on medical professionals, humanitarian aid workers, and journalists, and the deliberate deprivation of food, water, medicine, and electricity essential to the survival of the population.
  • The IAGS resolution also noted that Hamas and other Palestinian groups that participated in the October 7 attacks committed serious crimes in breach of international law.
  • The resolution called on Israel to immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza, and on states that have signed the genocide convention to ensure they are meeting their obligations in terms of preventing arms sales to Israel and upholding international law.
  • The IAGS resolution stated that Israel's actions in Gaza indicated an intent to destroy the Palestinian people in whole or in part, and that the deliberate attacks on civilians, including children, and the destruction of schools, libraries, and cultural sites were designed to erode Palestinian identity and eliminate the next generation of Palestinians.
  • Professor O'Brien, chair of the IAGS, rejected Israel's self-defence stance, saying that there is no justification for the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, not even self-defence.

Statistics:

  • 500 members of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) took part in the vote, with 86% voting in favour of the resolution.
  • The resolution stated that 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, with another 160,660 people wounded.
  • At least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Monday, more than half of them women and children, according to hospitals in Gaza.
  • Israel says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the militant group operates in densely populated areas.

Sources:

  • The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) resolution
  • University of Western Australia international law professor Melanie O'Brien
  • Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Gaza's Health Ministry
  • ABC News wire services

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