Two prominent Israeli human rights organizations, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), have publicly accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
This marks the first time Israeli groups have used such language, with B’Tselem releasing a 79-page report detailing systematic acts of violence, destruction, and displacement, asserting that Israel’s campaign is not merely targeting Hamas but the broader Palestinian population.
B’Tselem’s report draws on 20 months of research and thousands of documented cases across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel. The organization claims the Israeli government’s actions go beyond military objectives and include mass killings, destruction of infrastructure, forced displacement, and abuse of detainees.
PHRI supported this assessment, pointing to the deliberate dismantling of Gaza’s healthcare system as a method of population-wide harm.
Israel Denies Genocide Claims as Western Allies Face Accusations of Enabling the War
Israel has rejected the genocide accusations, with a government spokesperson emphasizing the nation’s right to free speech but firmly denying the claims. Israel maintains that its military actions are in self-defense following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks, which killed 1,200 people and led to the kidnapping of 251 others.
Historically, Israel has reacted strongly against genocide accusations, labeling many of them antisemitic or politically motivated.
While B’Tselem and PHRI place primary responsibility on the Israeli government, they also criticize the international community, especially the US and European nations, for enabling the violence through diplomatic support and arms shipments.
Their report references the International Court of Justice’s preliminary ruling that there is a “plausible risk” Israel’s actions amount to genocide, yet many Western nations have continued to support Israel militarily and politically.
Mounting Global Outrage and Domestic Dissent Over Israel’s Actions in Gaza Crisis
The reports arrive amid global condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Graphic images of starving children and collapsing hospitals have ignited anger, with the UK, France, and Germany labeling the crisis “man-made and avoidable.” Gaza’s health infrastructure is near total collapse, and children face acute malnutrition, painting a grim picture of the ongoing blockade and bombardment.
Internally, Israel faces growing dissent. Anti-war protests have increased, and academic leaders from five top Israeli universities issued a joint letter condemning statements by some politicians calling for the destruction of Gaza. These leaders expressed alarm at the worsening humanitarian situation and rising incitement against Palestinians, urging the government to reconsider its actions.
Though B’Tselem is the first Israeli group to explicitly accuse the state of genocide, international organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Nations have previously made similar claims.
Legal efforts have also been launched: South Africa and Ireland filed cases with the International Court of Justice, and several Israeli scholars have publicly accused their government of pursuing ethnic cleansing. The growing chorus of condemnation underscores the severity and controversy surrounding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
