JERUSALEM/GAZA, July 28 2025.
An influential Israeli human rights organization recently made an unprecedented and groundbreaking assertion: that Israel’s conduct in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide. B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR), two prominent human rights organizations that comprised this statement, stated publicly: “the destruction of healthcare infrastructure alone makes Israel’s war genocidal according to Article 2(c) of Genocide Convention,” noting that deliberately inflicting conditions of life that seek to eradicate an ethnic group constitute genocide; henceforth they all joined together and published statements regarding these claims that public statements by these two influential Israeli human rights organizations to make such statements: Israel meets legal definition of Genocide Convention Article 2. C)
Their claim follows mounting evidence from international bodies. Amnesty International issued a landmark 296-page report declaring Israel committed acts forbidden under the Genocide Convention such as killings, serious mental bodily harm and creating life-destroying conditions on Palestinians in Gaza with “specific intent” of exterminating them (Al Jazeera/Amnesty Canada/Wikipedia).
Human Rights Watch also accused Israel of genocide, specifically citing acts such as depriving civilians of water supplies and vital infrastructure that inflicted mass civilian suffering (HRW +11 and Financial Times +11 respectively).
Key Allegations and Evidence B’Tselem and PHR allege that Israel’s dismantlement of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure–through destruction of hospitals, maternity wards, and reproductive centers–constitutes an intentional effort to limit Palestinian survival capacity under Article 2(c) of the Genocide Convention, according to The Guardian and Wikipedia (+1 for each).
United Nations investigations conducted in early 2025 determined that the destruction of Gaza’s IVF clinic and reproductive healthcare facilities, along with restrictions placed upon medication for pregnancy and neonatal care, had resulted in irreparable harm; an act that amounts to deliberate genocide. For more information about this topic visit Wikipedia/The Guardian (+1 for both).
The UN Commission of Inquiry also documented deliberate use of starvation, forced displacement and attacks against civilians as crimes against humanity or potential genocides and submitted thousands of pieces of evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) [Wikipedia].
Political and Regional Reactions Israeli human rights groups singled out Western allies–primarily the US and European states–as complicit, asserting that “it couldn’t happen without their support” while simultaneously denouncing leaders who continue arms transfers or diplomatic cover as contributing to “horror” unfolding in Gaza (The Guardian).
Internationally, South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice remains on track. Brazil recently joined South Africa’s application by joining as a supporting state; pressing Israel to justify or challenge grounds of alleged genocide according to the Genocide Convention and Human Rights Watch + Wikipedia + The Guardian +2
As global condemnation against Israel grows, a coalition of human rights lawyers and law professors recently issued a report declaring their policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as amounting to both apartheid and genocide, in violation of international law by mass killings, arbitrary detentions and discriminatory practices targeting Palestinians – evidence which they claimed breached international norms (The Guardian/Amnesty.org +1).
Pushback and Denials
The Israeli government has denied these allegations vigorously, alleging they are politically motivated, disregard critical context of Hamas-driven conflict, and distort urban warfare realities. Officials argue genocidal intent – an essential legal condition- has not been credibly demonstrated and warn of moral degradation due to misuse of the term “genocide”.
Jpost.com | Wikipedia
Human Rights Watch previously criticised Israel for failing to comply with an International Court order demanding aid access for Gaza, accusing it of impeding humanitarian supplies and exacerbating life-threatening conditions as WMD violations of international norms, Human Rights Watch +1 (AP News).
What This Means
This landmark accusation by Israeli civil society adds weight to international legal scrutiny, potentially including liability under international law for genocide as well as pressure for immediate cessation of military operations. If confirmed by courts such as the International Court of Justice or International Criminal Court (ICJ or ICC), its implications may include liability under genocide laws and calls to cease military operations immediately.
With UN provisions already instructing Israel to prevent genocide and facilitate humanitarian access, the stakes are high. With reports emerging of starvation, mass displacement and collapsing public infrastructure systems, the world waits to see whether legal institutions, states and leaders take decisive action or risk contributing to genocide through inaction.