Monday, 25 May 2026
AP photo
Genocide scholars: Israel’s actions in Gaza are genocide
The International Association of Genocide Scholars—an organization of roughly 500 experts worldwide, including numerous Holocaust specialists—released a resolution stating that Israel’s conduct in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide. This decision adds to growing global criticism and may further isolate Israel on the international stage. Israel, for its part, rejects these allegations, denouncing the group’s resolution as “an embarrassment to the legal profession.”
“Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide,” the resolution affirmed, with 86% of participating members voting in favor. The organization did not disclose the exact vote count.
“Experts in genocide studies can recognize this situation for what it is,” said Melanie O’Brien, president of the association and professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, in an interview with AP.
Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction and the displacement of the majority of the territory’s more than 2 million residents.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry—affiliated with the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals—more than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths, but states that about half the victims are women and children.
The United Nations and independent observers regard Gaza’s Health Ministry as the most credible source on casualties, though Israel disputes its figures and has not released its own data.
In its resolution, the genocide scholars’ group accused Israel of “indiscriminate and deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure” in Gaza, and called on the country to “immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza.”
The resolution also acknowledged that Hamas’s October 7 attack “constitutes international crimes.”
Genocide, as outlined in the 1948 convention established in the aftermath of the Holocaust, is defined as acts committed “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” The United Nations and numerous Western nations have maintained that only a court can formally determine if genocide has taken place. Proceedings against Israel are currently underway at the U.N.’s highest court.
Israel—established in part as a sanctuary following the Holocaust that claimed the lives of some 6 million European Jews—has adamantly denied committing genocide.
“With this resolution, the IAGS has set a historic precedent—accusing the very victims of genocide, despite Hamas’s attempt to commit genocide against the Jewish people,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in response, calling the decision “disgraceful.”
Israel maintains that Hamas is prolonging the conflict by refusing to surrender and release hostages. In recent days, Israel has initiated a new phase of operations, declaring Gaza City an active combat zone.
Founded in 1994, the International Association of Genocide Scholars has previously recognized China’s actions against the Uyghur Muslim minority and Myanmar’s crackdown on Rohingya Muslims as genocide.
In 2006, the organization also determined that then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s calls for Israel to be “wiped off the map” demonstrated “genocidal intent.”