The False Accusation of Genocide: A Distortion of Truth
The accusation of genocide is not only false but also deeply offensive, representing a distortion of the truth and an active participation in Hamas’s propaganda efforts. As the sun rises and sets, so too do these recycled accusations of “genocide” being directed at Israel by individuals who masquerade as scholars or activists. This time, the claim has come from the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), a group that seems more focused on ideological posturing than on upholding academic integrity.
From our respective perspectives—both as a human-rights lawyer and a military expert—we have reached a shared conclusion: Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. Our combined experience spans over four decades, during which we have visited Gaza, led soldiers in combat, and studied international law. We have spoken with IDF commanders and soldiers on the ground, visited aid centers, and reviewed operational orders. Based on this firsthand knowledge, the claim of genocide is not just incorrect—it is morally repugnant, a misrepresentation of facts, and a complicity in Hamas’s narrative.
The IAGS Resolution: A Questionable Process
The IAGS resolution itself highlights the lack of credibility behind the accusation. Only about 20% of members voted in favor of it. Membership is open to anyone willing to pay a $30 fee, without any requirement for academic rigor or expertise. The inclusion of parody accounts such as “Mo Cookie,” “Emperor Palpatine,” and “Adolf Hitler of Gaza City” as members further undermines the legitimacy of the organization. Such a process producing such a serious accusation should immediately discredit the entire exercise. Yet, the global media, commentators, and lawmakers have rushed to amplify these claims.
Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, genocide is a specific legal term, not a vague political label. It refers to acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The key element is the specific intent to destroy, known in international tribunals as dolus specialis. This high threshold is deliberately set to prevent the misuse of the term. Without this intent, mass atrocities fall under other categories of international law, such as war crimes or crimes against humanity, but not genocide.
The Reality of the Conflict
The war is undeniably brutal, painful, and devastating, but it is fought by Israel in self-defense and in accordance with the laws of armed conflict. Nothing we have observed in Gaza remotely suggests genocidal intent or action. The war is fought by Israel in self-defense, and its actions are guided by the principles of international humanitarian law.
Hamas carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023, and has vowed to repeat it “again and again” until Israel is destroyed. It still holds dozens of hostages. Israel’s objective has never been to eliminate the Palestinian people. Its stated aim has always been to dismantle Hamas’s military and governing structures, prevent further terrorist attacks, and secure the release of hostages. Israeli leaders have repeatedly emphasized that the conflict is with Hamas, not the Palestinian people, yet critics often dismiss these statements as if they hold no weight.
Misusing the Term “Genocide”
Without proof of genocidal intent, accusers instead focus on the tragic effects of war: civilian deaths, destroyed buildings, food insecurity. They then argue that these outcomes prove genocide. However, this reasoning is flawed. If devastation or high casualties alone proved genocidal intent, nearly every war in history could be labeled genocide. Such logic strips the term of its meaning and risks undermining the very concept of genocide.
Civilian suffering in Gaza is real, but the primary responsibility lies with Hamas. The group has embedded its military infrastructure within homes, schools, hospitals, and mosques, using civilians as shields. This reality cannot be ignored when discussing the conduct of the war.
Israel’s Efforts to Minimize Civilian Harm
Israel has implemented measures unmatched by any modern military to reduce civilian harm. These include advance warnings, leaflets, phone alerts, humanitarian corridors, pauses for evacuation, and canceling strikes when civilian risk was too high. At the same time, Israel has facilitated unprecedented humanitarian assistance. Over two million tons of aid have entered Gaza since October 7, including food, medicine, fuel, and water.
Israel has overseen the vaccination of Gaza’s entire child population, repaired water infrastructure, delivered medical supplies, and enabled fuel shipments to keep hospitals and essential services running. These actions have taken place while Hamas continues to govern territory, fire rockets into Israeli towns, and hold hostages. There is no precedent for this level of humanitarian effort amid ongoing conflict.
A Contrast to Genocidal Campaigns
On the battlefield, Israel has shown extraordinary restraint. The IDF has used precision munitions, aborted strikes when children were visible, and deployed ground forces at great risk to minimize harm to civilians. This is the opposite of genocide. Genocidal campaigns are defined by the intentional and systematic extermination of a people, as seen in Rwanda in 1994, Srebrenica in 1995, Darfur in the 2000s, or the attempted extermination of the Druze in Syria. To equate Gaza with these horrors is not only inaccurate but an insult to the memory of real victims.
Weaponizing the Term “Genocide”
Weaponizing the term “genocide” is not benign. It is part of a deliberate strategy to delegitimize Israel, isolate it diplomatically, and absolve Hamas of its crimes. By misapplying “the crime of crimes” to Israel, activists and so-called scholars cheapen the word, erode the credibility of international institutions, and serve as pawns of Hamas—the only party in this war that has openly declared genocidal intent.
Words matter. So does law. Genocide is not a political football. When it is maliciously wielded against Israel, it demeans the victims of real genocides and undermines the integrity of international law itself.