Human rights organizations in Israel claim Gaza is experiencing genocide for the first time on record
In a shocking development, two Israeli human rights groups, B'tselem and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHRI), have accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. This accusation, supported by other experts and organizations such as Amnesty International and a United Nations Special Committee, is based on documented widespread civilian harm and systematic measures.
The allegations include large-scale killing, use of starvation as a weapon, destruction of civilian infrastructure, killing healthcare workers and aid seekers, forced displacement, sexual violence, and prevention of births.
By mid-2025, the Gaza Health Ministry reported over 59,000 deaths—approximately 1 in every 40 residents—mostly civilians including a high proportion of women and children. Injuries exceed 100,000, and Gaza reportedly has the highest per capita rate of child amputees globally. Similar estimates in The Lancet projected about 64,000 deaths from traumatic injuries by mid-2024, with updated estimates around 80,000 by early 2025.
The use of the term "genocide" remains highly contested and politically charged. While pro-Palestinian activists and some genocide scholars acknowledge this characterization, it is sensitive due to the legal implications involving the intent of perpetrators and the high bar traditionally required to legally define an act as genocide.
B'tselem's report emphasizes that Israel's actions in Gaza are not isolated incidents but part of a longstanding pattern of violence and discrimination against Palestinians. The group argues that Israel's backers are complicit in genocide "whether through active support or inaction".
PHRI presented evidence that Israel's military is deliberately and systematically destroying Gaza's healthcare system. The groups also accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians.
The October 7 attacks on Israel, according to B'tselem, should be understood in the context of more than 70 years in which Israel has imposed a violent and discriminatory regime on the Palestinians. The report suggests that Israel's impunity in Gaza is endangering other Palestinian territories.
Egyptians have been throwing supplies into the Mediterranean Sea, hoping they reach Gaza. Many Palestinians and international organizations have previously made similar accusations against Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The addition of these Israeli groups is likely to increase pressure on Israel as global condemnation of its conduct during almost 22 months of war mounts. Both groups criticize the international community for allowing Israel's leadership to continue its actions in Gaza.
In summary, Israeli human rights groups have concretely labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide based on documented widespread civilian harm and systematic measures, while international responses remain mixed, grappling with the legal and political weight of this designation in an ongoing conflict.
[1] B'tselem and PHRI reports, various news articles [2] Genocide Watch, United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, The Lancet article on Gaza's health crisis
- The accusation of genocide against Israel in the Gaza Strip, supported by B'tselem and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHRI), has sparked intense debates in the realm of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news.
- Amidst the ongoing conflict, Egyptians have been contributing supplies to Gaza, reflecting the deep concerns of the international community about the health crisis and war-related atrocities in the region.
- As the number of deaths in Gaza continues to mount, with over 59,000 reported by mid-2025 and the highest per capita rate of child amputees globally, the general public is closely following the news on health, war-and-conflicts, and politics concerning this crisis in Israel and Palestine.
