Israeli Human Rights Groups Label Gaza Assault a Genocide

The two groups released reports on Monday detailing a systematic effort to dismantle Palestinian society through mass killing and the intentional creation of unlivable conditions. Yuli Novak, executive director of B’Tselem, noted that while the organization never anticipated writing such a document, the reality of the past 22 months left no alternative. The findings highlight the destruction of essential infrastructure, including 33 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, and the displacement of nearly the entire population of 2 million people.

B’Tselem’s research points to explicit statements from senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as evidence of intent to force the permanent removal of Palestinians. The report underscores that these actions are not incidental to the conflict but are part of a calculated strategy to render the territory uninhabitable. With over 59,000 Palestinians reported dead and mass starvation exacerbated by a blockade on food, the organizations are now calling on the international community to move beyond rhetoric and intervene to fulfill their legal obligations to stop the violence.