International Association of Genocide Scholars Declares Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza

Sat Sep 13 2025 11:07:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The International Association of Genocide Scholars has formally accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a resolution that could further isolate the nation internationally.

The International Association of Genocide Scholars has determined that Israel's actions in Gaza fulfill the legal definition of genocide. This assertion, supported by a significant majority of its members, adds to a growing discourse on international accountability for Israel's actions following the recent escalations in conflict. Israel has strongly refuted these claims, labeling the accusations as antisemitic. As civilian casualties mount, the situation prompts urgent calls for scrutiny and accountability under international law.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Association of Genocide Scholars, a leading global body of academics studying genocide, announced on Monday that it believes Israel is perpetrating genocide in Gaza.

The group, comprising around 500 members including experts on the Holocaust, stated that Israel’s policies and actions align with the legal definition of genocide, which could have implications for Israel’s standing in international discourse. This declaration adds to the increasing body of organizations and individuals labeling Israel's military actions in Gaza as genocidal. Israel has consistently denied these claims.

“Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide,” the organization concluded, with 86% of voting members supporting the resolution, although specific voting details were not disclosed.

Melanie O’Brien, president of the association and a professor of international law, emphasized that experts in genocide can recognize the situation for what it truly is.

International laws surrounding genocide were established post-World War II, particularly shaped by the Holocaust's horrors, defining genocide as actions taken with the intent to destroy, wholly or partially, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The UN has stipulated that only a legal court can make determinations about genocide allegations, and a case against Israel is underway at the International Court of Justice.

Following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that initiated the current conflict, Israel has faced increasing scrutiny as civilian casualties rise. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas, more than 63,000 Palestinians have died, with claims that around half of these casualties are women and children.

Israel categorically denies the genocide allegations, labeling them as antisemitic and invalidating the numbers reported by Gaza authorities. The Israeli government cites its military actions as efforts to prevent harm to civilians and attributes civilian deaths to Hamas’s strategy of operating within densely populated regions.

The declaration by the scholars echoes prior accusations made by Ben-Gvir and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, while other international human rights groups have similarly accused Israel of committing genocide.

As allegations escalate, South Africa has also charged Israel with breaching the Genocide Convention at the same court, a claim Israel dismisses. The protracted nature of legal proceedings may delay accountability measures.

The ongoing international discourse surrounding Israel’s military engagements and the Palestinian situation continues to call for urgent attention, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. The actions taken by nations and organizations like the International Association of Genocide Scholars may play a critical role in defining international relations in the context of ongoing conflicts.