Gaza genocide

Gaza genocide
Part of the Israel–Hamas war and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories
Palestinians with bodies in traditional funeral shrouds, Gaza Strip, October 2023.
Location	Gaza Strip
Date	7 October 2023 (2023-10-07) – present
Target	Palestinians
Attack type	Genocide (accused), collective punishment, mass murder, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, bombardment, targeted killings, starvation as method of war, torture, rape[1][2]
Deaths	At least 45,090 directly killed[a] More than 10,000 estimated under rubble[7] Indirect deaths[b][9] likely to be several times higher than those directly killed[c][11]
Injured	At least 106,100[3][12]
Victims	20% of population facing "catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity" involving "an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion"[13] 1,900,000+ internally displaced persons[14][15] Damaging or destruction of approximately 80% of homes and 50% of buildings in Gaza[16][17][d]
Motive	Retaliation and revenge for the 7 October attacks[19][20][21] Anti-Palestinianism,[22] anti-Arab racism[23] Settler colonialism[24]
Accused	Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli war cabinet and its government Israel Defense Forces, under the leadership of Israel Katz and Yoav Gallant Israel Ministry of National Security, under the leadership of Itamar Ben-Gvir Potential complicity includes:[25][26][27][relevant? – discuss] United States Germany United Kingdom
Litigation	South Africa's genocide case against Israel Nicaragua v. Germany

A United Nations agency and a growing number of experts and rights organisations have accused Israel of carrying out genocidal acts against the Palestinian people during its invasion and bombing of the Gaza Strip in the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.^{[28][29][30][31]} Various observers, including the UN Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices and the United Nations Special Rapporteur,^[32] have cited statements by senior Israeli officials that may indicate an intent to destroy, in whole or in part, Gaza's population, a necessary condition for the legal threshold of genocide to be met.^[29][33][34]

By mid-August 2024, Israeli military action had resulted in over 40,000 confirmed Palestinian deaths—1 out of every 59 people in Gaza—averaging 148 deaths per day. Most of the victims are civilians,^[35][36] of whom at least 50% are women and children.^[37][38] Compared to other recent global conflicts, the numbers of known deaths of journalists, humanitarian and health workers, and children are among the highest.^[39] Thousands of more dead bodies are thought to be under the rubble of destroyed buildings.^[36][40] The number of injured is greater than 100,000;^[12] Gaza has the most amputated children per capita in the world.^[41] As of August 2024, only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were partially functional;^[42] 84% of its health centers have been destroyed or suffered damage.^[43] An enforced Israeli blockade heavily contributed to starvation and the threat of famine in Gaza, while some Israeli civilians have blocked or attacked aid convoys delivering humanitarian supplies across the border. Early in the conflict, Israel cut off Gaza's water and electricity supply. Israel has also destroyed numerous culturally significant buildings, such as all of Gaza's 12 universities, 80% of its schools,^[44][45] and numerous mosques, churches, museums, and libraries.^[46]

The government of South Africa has instituted proceedings, South Africa v. Israel, against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging a violation of the Genocide Convention.^[47] In an initial ruling, the ICJ held that South Africa was entitled to bring its case against Israel, while Palestinians were recognised to have a right to protection from genocide.^[48] The court ordered Israel to observe its obligations under the Genocide Convention by taking all measures within its power to prevent the commission of acts of genocide, to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and to allow basic humanitarian services into Gaza.^[49][50][51] The court also later ordered Israel to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza and to prevent genocidal acts during the Rafah offensive.^[52][53] The Israeli government rejected South Africa's allegations.^[51]

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