Israeli Human Rights Groups Accuse Government of Genocide in Gaza

Two prominent human rights organizations based in Israel, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), have issued alarming reports accusing the Israeli government of committing genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza. These reports, released on July 28, 2025, assert that Israel has systematically targeted civilians in Gaza based solely on their Palestinian identity during nearly two years of conflict, resulting in severe damage to the societal fabric of Palestinian life.

The reports detail a series of actions that the organizations claim meet the international legal definition of genocide. Among these are the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, mass forced displacements, and the destruction of essential infrastructure that has deprived Palestinians of access to healthcare, education, and other fundamental rights. According to Yuli Novak, Executive Director of B’Tselem, this constitutes a clear and intentional attack on civilians aimed at destroying a national group. "Every human being has to ask himself: what do you do in the face of genocide?" she stated, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention.

PHR's report provides a detailed chronology of the attacks on Gaza's healthcare system, highlighting the systematic targeting of medical facilities and personnel. Guy Shalev, the director of PHR, noted that such actions alone could legally qualify as genocide under Article 2c of the Genocide Convention, which prohibits conditions of life calculated to destroy a group in whole or part. Shalev remarked, "You don’t have to have all five articles of the genocide convention to be fulfilled in order for something to be genocide."

Both organizations expressed concern that Israel's western allies bear responsibility for the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis. They argue that without the backing of the United States and European nations, such actions could not continue. Novak urged global leaders to act decisively, stating, "Any leader that is not doing whatever they can to stop it is part of this horror."

The Israeli government has vehemently denied these accusations, framing its military operations as self-defense following cross-border attacks by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians. However, B’Tselem and PHR assert that the evidence of genocidal intent is clear, citing both the rhetoric of Israeli political leaders and the documented consequences of military actions against Palestinian civilians.

The reports also raise concerns about the potential for the violence to escalate beyond Gaza into the West Bank, where tensions have already increased dramatically since the beginning of the conflict. Novak warned that the same military apparatus now employed in Gaza is also present in the West Bank, and a trigger could easily escalate the situation further. "What we worry about and want to warn about is the fact that any small trigger might make the genocide spill over from Gaza into the West Bank," she cautioned.

As the death toll in Gaza approaches 60,000, representing more than 2.5% of the prewar population, the implications of these reports extend beyond immediate humanitarian concerns. They highlight a broader pattern of systemic oppression and violence against Palestinians, raising critical questions about international law, state accountability, and the moral responsibilities of global powers in conflict situations.

Experts in international law and human rights have echoed the sentiments expressed in the reports, calling for urgent action to address what they describe as a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis. The situation calls for a reevaluation of international responses to state violence, particularly in contexts where civilian populations bear the brunt of conflict. The ongoing situation in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and moral dilemmas inherent in modern warfare, where the lines between combatants and civilians have become tragically blurred.