The world’s largest association of genocide experts has declared that Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide, a conclusion that intensifies global debate over the war and its humanitarian toll.
In a resolution passed this week, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) said Israel’s actions meet the legal definition of genocide under the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. The three-page document outlines a series of Israeli policies and actions during the 22-month war that the group says amount to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The IAGS, which includes Holocaust experts among its 500 members, reported that 28 percent participated in the vote, with 86 percent of those backing the resolution. The declaration cites widespread attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system, aid infrastructure, and educational institutions, as well as the destruction of housing and statements by Israeli leaders advocating the forced expulsion of Palestinians.
Among the most striking figures referenced is UNICEF’s estimate that 50,000 Palestinian children have been killed or injured, a toll the scholars argue undermines Gaza’s ability to survive and regenerate as a community.
The resolution also highlights rhetoric from Israeli officials describing Palestinians as “the enemy” and pledges to “flatten Gaza” and turn it into “hell.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the findings, calling the report “based on Hamas lies” and “an embarrassment to the legal profession.” A spokesperson said Israel itself was the victim of genocide, maintaining that its military actions are acts of self-defense.
Israel has consistently rejected accusations of genocide, citing the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack — in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage — as the catalyst for its campaign. The IAGS resolution acknowledged that Hamas’s assault constituted a crime but argued Israel’s response has deliberately targeted the broader population of Gaza rather than Hamas alone.
The UN Genocide Convention, drafted after the Holocaust, defines genocide as acts committed “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” Several rights groups, including Israeli organizations, have echoed the IAGS’s conclusion that Israel’s conduct fits that definition.
The United Nations and Western governments have said only a court ruling can establish whether genocide is occurring. The International Court of Justice is currently reviewing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The ICJ has not yet issued a decision and recently granted Israel an extension until January 2026 to submit its defense.
On Monday, Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry reported 63,557 people killed and more than 160,000 injured since the conflict began. The ministry’s figures, often cited by international bodies, do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
In August, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed that famine is occurring in parts of Gaza. Israel, which controls all border crossings, faces accusations of fueling starvation by restricting food and medical aid. International law obliges occupying powers to protect civilian life and prevent famine.
While the IAGS resolution carries no legal weight in international courts, its declaration adds to mounting international scrutiny of Israel’s military strategy and its consequences for Gaza’s population.
