Aid organizations in Israel openly discuss "mass killing" or "genocide"
In a shocking turn of events, two prominent Israeli human rights organizations, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI), have publicly accused the Israeli government of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The accusations, made in two detailed reports published on Monday, describe coordinated, intentional efforts to destroy Palestinian society in Gaza through military actions, destruction of infrastructure, and creating dire living conditions, including dismantling the healthcare system.
B'Tselem's 88-page report outlines legal and moral arguments based on a broad definition of genocide encompassing physical, social, political, and cultural destruction.
However, the Israeli government has strongly rejected these allegations. Israeli government spokesman, David Mencer, stated that their defense forces "target terrorists and never civilians" and put the responsibility for the suffering in Gaza on Hamas. Mencer also noted that the Israeli government sends aid goods to the Gaza Strip, contradicting the allegation of intent to destroy Palestinian society.
This is the first time that these Israeli non-governmental organizations have accused the government of genocide. The Jerusalem government has reacted angrily to the statement made by the organizations.
It's important to note that no other Israeli non-governmental organizations have made similar accusations against the Netanyahu government.
The Israeli government insists that it targets terrorists and not civilians in its operations in the Gaza Strip. This stance was echoed by Mencer, who emphasized that the Israeli government's actions are aimed at combating Hamas militants, not civilians.
The accusations come amidst Israel's large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip, which began following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The conflict has led to a severe famine in the region, according to reports.
B'Tselem's director, Hagai El-Ad, expressed his organization's realization that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians as a deeply painful moment. El-Ad stated at a press conference that they have a duty to speak the truth as clearly as possible.
According to Hamas authorities, more than 59,800 people have been killed in Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip. Israeli sources report that Hamas had killed over 1,210 people and taken 251 hostages in a large-scale attack on various locations in Israel.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Israeli government will respond to these serious allegations.
The accusations of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by B'Tselem and PHRI have sparked a heated response from the Israeli government, with theCommunity policy and employment policy remaining unchanged, while the politics surrounding the issue intensify. This criticism also coincides with the general-news of war-and-conflicts and the crime-and-justice aspect ofPalestinian suffering and Israeli military operations in Gaza.
