International Scholars Declare Israel's Actions in Gaza as Genocide

Tue Oct 21 2025 14:55:10 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The International Association of Genocide Scholars claims Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a statement that could escalate tensions in global politics and public opinion against Israel.

The International Association of Genocide Scholars, comprising around 500 experts, has voted to characterize Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, citing legal definitions and historical context. The organization’s resolution claims that Israel's policies and actions meet the legal criteria for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, asserting that 86% of its members supported this position. This declaration continues a rising global chorus condemning Israel, particularly in light of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Israel has vehemently denied these accusations, branding them as anti-Semitic rhetoric. As casualties rise amid ongoing conflict, both domestic and international interpretations of Israel’s military actions remain deeply divided.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide announced on Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

This determination by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which has approximately 500 members worldwide, including many Holocaust experts, marks a potential shift in global public opinion regarding Israel. The resolution, supported by 86% of the voters, asserts that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definitions of genocide and crimes against humanity. However, the organization did not disclose specific vote counts.

Melanie O’Brien, the organization’s president and a professor of international law, emphasized that the expertise of genocide scholars allows them to recognize the situation in Gaza for what it is.

Genocide, defined in a 1948 convention post-Holocaust, involves acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The United Nations affirms that a formal ruling on genocide can only be made by a court, and a case against Israel is currently pending at the U.N. International Court of Justice.

Israel, a nation established as a refuge in the wake of the Holocaust, has categorically rejected accusations of genocide, labeling them as antisemitic blood libel. The nation argues that the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that initiated the conflict was itself a genocidal act.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has already resulted in a staggering humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has witnessed significant casualties and widespread destruction. As of the latest reports, the Gaza Health Ministry claims over 63,000 Palestinian lives have been lost since Israel's military campaign began, although the exact composition of these casualties remains the subject of debate.

The scholars’ resolution acknowledges that Hamas’s October 7 attack constitutes international crimes. Israel further claims it strives to avoid civilian harm, attributing the toll to Hamas's tactics of operating within densely populated regions.

The debate around this issue is intensifying as various human rights organizations, including those within Israel, have begun to echo sentiments of genocide concerning actions taken during the conflict. In June, two notable Israeli rights groups directly accused their government of committing genocide against Gazans.

Internationally, South Africa has brought accusations against Israel in the International Court of Justice for breaching the Genocide Convention, although Israel firmly denies these claims.