Feeling overwhelmed with information? We’re here to help cut through the noise. Learn the most common questions about Israel — along with the accurate information to address them through dialogue and discussion:
Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?
Some critics of Israel have accused the Israeli government of committing genocide of Palestinians. But genocide is a legal term, and Israeli policies and actions in its war against Hamas do not meet the definition of intentionally exterminating the Palestinian people, according to international law. This claim is inaccurate and misleading.
The term “genocide” has been falsely used to sensationalize the Israel-Palestinian conflict and to demonize Israel – both by anti-Israel activists, and by nations that are opposed to Israel’s actions in the current Israel-Hamas War.
In December of 2023, South Africa filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging that Israel had violated the United Nations 1948 convention on the prevention of genocide during its current military actions in Gaza. While it will take years until the ICJ hands down a final ruling, the court did not order Israel to withdraw from Gaza or ends its military operation, and South Africa is currently struggling to find evidence to support its case.
South Africa is required to submit evidence to the ICJ by October 28, but recently asked for that deadline to be postponed due to a current lack of evidence pointing to genocide in Gaza.