Amnesty International has released a powerful report accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, escalating the ongoing conflict. The report, published Thursday, claims that Israel’s military actions meet the legal criteria for genocide, supported by months of research, testimonies, and satellite data.
Titled “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman”: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, the report presents evidence of at least three acts prohibited by the 1948 Genocide Convention, including indiscriminate killing, infliction of serious harm, and conditions aimed at physical destruction.
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Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, stated that Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as “subhuman,” demonstrating intent to annihilate them. Despite international appeals and legal rulings from the International Court of Justice urging Israel to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Israeli government has continued its military actions, causing significant harm to Palestinian civilians.
The report suggests Israel’s actions in Gaza are part of a broader pattern of dispossession, apartheid, and illegal military occupation, with the intent to destroy the Palestinian population. It challenges Israel’s claim that its military operations target only Hamas, highlighting the disproportionate impact on civilians in Gaza.
Amnesty found no credible evidence to support Israel’s claims that the diversion of humanitarian aid by armed groups in Gaza justifies its restrictions on aid, accusing Israel of deliberately preventing life-saving assistance.
Israel has not yet responded to the report but continues to deny allegations of genocide, arguing that its actions are in self-defense after the October 7 Hamas attacks. The Israeli government also contends that criticism of their actions often crosses into anti-Semitism.
The report also examines statements from Israeli officials, many of whom have dehumanized Palestinians and justified genocidal acts. Amnesty argues that these statements provide clear evidence of genocidal intent. Callamard condemned the international community for its “shameful failure” to stop the violence, accusing it of enabling Israel’s actions by delaying ceasefire calls and continuing to supply weapons. She urged immediate action to halt the genocide in Gaza.
“The international community’s failure will be a stain on our collective conscience,” Callamard warned, urging governments to take decisive action to end the genocide.
