Israeli rights groups declare Gaza war a ‘genocide’ in landmark reports
B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel accuse government of intentional destruction of Palestinian society
TEL AVIV, Israel (MNTV) — Two leading Israeli human rights organizations have for the first time publicly declared that Israel’s military operation in Gaza constitutes an act of genocide against the Palestinian population.
In coordinated reports, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel presented their starkest condemnation yet of the Israeli government’s actions, asserting that the ongoing war has gone beyond military objectives and represents a deliberate effort to dismantle Palestinian society.
“This is a deeply painful moment,” said Yuli Novak, executive director of B’Tselem, during a press conference held in Jerusalem.
“Nothing prepares you for the realization that you are part of a society committing genocide.” She emphasized that both Israelis and Palestinians must confront the truth of what is happening in Gaza.
The B’Tselem report cited statements from Israeli political leaders to argue that the state is carrying out “coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip.”
Meanwhile, Physicians for Human Rights Israel focused its report on what it described as the “deliberate and systematic destruction” of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, warning that the war’s impact has severely compromised the medical system and endangered civilian survival.
The statements come amid growing international concern over the human toll of the 21-month-long conflict, started on Oct 8th, 2023.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 59,821 people, most of them civilians.
The war has displaced all residents of Gaza at least once, and UN agencies continue to warn of an imminent famine and widespread malnutrition.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a ruling issued in early 2024, found it “plausible” that Israel’s military actions may have breached the UN Genocide Convention.
The reports released Monday assert that Israel’s objectives exceed those claims, and instead reflect a broader and more destructive agenda.
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