As global concerns intensify regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza, a prominent Israeli scholar has asserted that these actions amount to genocide. Increasing voices from politicians, human rights advocates, historians, and legal experts have pointed to a systematic effort by the Israeli state to eliminate the Palestinian population and render life in Gaza untenable.
These accusations gained traction following South Africa’s submission of a case to the International Court of Justice in December 2023, alleging that Israel is committing genocide—a claim Israel has dismissed as “baseless.” In an interview with Euronews, Omer Bartov, Dean’s Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, articulated his belief that the situation unfolding in Gaza fits the criteria of genocide.
Evidence of genocidal intent
Initially, Bartov characterized Israel’s military response to the 7 October Hamas terrorist attacks as “disproportionate,” arguing it constituted “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” However, by May 2024, he reassessed the situation, asserting that overwhelming evidence suggested a deliberate intent behind Israel’s actions.
Specific operations have seen the Israeli army forcibly displacing Palestinians from Rafah to Mawasi, a coastal area with inadequate shelter, while systematically demolishing infrastructure in Rafah. Bartov pointed to statements from Israeli political leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he argues reflect intentions to annihilate the Palestinian population and render Gaza uninhabitable. He noted:
“Statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government constitute proof of their intent to destroy the Palestinians and to make Gaza uninhabitable.”
According to the 1948 Genocide Convention, genocide is characterized by an “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” While prosecuting genocide is a complex legal process, Bartov emphasized the necessity of demonstrating that the intent to destroy the group is being acted upon without other motivations.
Humanitarian crises and international complicity
Bartov highlighted systematic Israeli military actions that target hospitals, mosques, and museums, aiming to force the population out of Gaza—despite the fact that many residents have nowhere to escape. He referred to a recent report by the Israeli NGO Physicians for Human Rights, asserting that Israel’s actions amount to genocide, citing alarming statistics on miscarriages, underweight births, and maternal mortality resulting from the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
He believes the overarching objective of Israel’s actions is not merely to disable Hamas but to cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, as the Israeli government increasingly rejects the notion of a viable Palestinian state. In summarizing the death toll, he stated:
“That is clear, we are talking about between 60,000 and 100,000 dead.”
He also mentioned the significant number of injured and the chronically ill who have perished due to the collapse of healthcare services.
Despite Israel’s insistence that its operations target Hamas and not civilians, Bartov contended that the systematic nature of the violence against Palestinians aligns with the definition of genocide, noting that it is about creating conditions that prevent the group from sustaining itself.
Furthermore, he asserted that humanitarian pauses and ceasefires do not negate allegations of genocide. Bartov criticized the narrative surrounding these pauses, suggesting they were often imposed rather than agreed upon willingly by Israel.
Reflecting on public sentiment in Israel, Bartov expressed concern that many citizens are aware of the atrocities but choose to remain uninformed. He pointed to media coverage that sometimes misrepresents the suffering in Gaza, perpetuating a cycle of denial.
Bartov underscored the responsibility of the international community, particularly the United States and European countries, to intervene. He stated:
“All signatory states of the Genocide Convention, including all European countries and the United States, are duty bound to do something.”
He accused these nations of complicity in the violence, particularly emphasizing Germany’s role as a major arms supplier to Israel.
He warned that failing to address the situation could result in Israel becoming a pariah state, potentially inciting a rise in antisemitism globally. Bartov lamented that institutions dedicated to Holocaust remembrance have largely remained silent on the ongoing crisis, undermining their credibility.
Finally, while acknowledging the horror of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, Bartov characterized them as war crimes and crimes against humanity but remained skeptical that they meet the legal definitions of genocide.