LONDON, Sept 2: The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has declared that Israel’s conduct in Gaza meets the UN definition of genocide, the BBC reported.
In a resolution adopted by the body, which is regarded as the largest professional organization of genocide experts worldwide, Israel is accused of committing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the 22-month war, added the BBC.
The BBC further reports that IAGS has about 500 members, including prominent Holocaust scholars. Of those who participated in the vote, 86% supported the resolution. In its three-page document, the association catalogued Israeli actions it says amount to systematic destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
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Citing UNICEF data, the resolution points to more than 50,000 children killed or wounded, undermining the survival and regeneration of Palestinians as a group. The BBC notes that the scholars listed repeated strikes on hospitals, schools, and aid infrastructure as deliberate attacks on systems essential for life.
The declaration also underlined Israeli leaders’ endorsement of forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the near-total destruction of housing. It further highlighted public statements from Israeli officials calling all Gazans enemies and pledging to “flatten Gaza” or turn it into “hell”.
Israel has dismissed the IAGS findings.
According to the BBC, the Foreign Ministry labelled the report “an embarrassment to the legal profession”, saying it relied on “Hamas lies” and poor scholarship. Officials reiterated Israel’s claim that it is the victim of genocide, not the perpetrator, and that its actions are acts of self-defense.
The IAGS resolution acknowledges Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. Yet, as the BBC notes, the scholars argue that Israel’s retaliation has extended far beyond Hamas, deliberately targeting Gaza’s entire civilian population.
The BBC recalls that the 1948 UN Genocide Convention defines genocide as the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Rights organizations, including two based in Israel, have also accused the government of genocide. Western governments and the UN, however, say that only a court ruling can provide authoritative confirmation.
The International Court of Justice is currently hearing a case brought by South Africa in 2023. Israel has called the proceedings antisemitic and a “blood libel”. The court has given Israel until January 2026 to present its defense.
Meanwhile, the BBC cites Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry figures of 63,557 killed and 160,660 injured, though these numbers do not separate combatants from civilians. UN agencies warn famine is underway, with Israel accused of restricting food and medical supplies. As the occupying power controlling Gaza’s borders, international law makes Israel responsible for safeguarding civilian survival, including preventing starvation.
