Gaza genocide

The Gaza genocide is the mass destruction of Palestinian people by Israel in Gaza. This description is given by a United Nations Special Committee,^[37][38] human rights organizations like Amnesty International,^[39] Médecins Sans Frontières,^[40] B'Tselem,^[41] and a large group of genocide scholars and experts.^[42] These organizations report that Israel is carrying out this destruction with the intent to destroy Gaza's population in whole or in part.^[43]

Gaza genocide
Part of the Gaza war
Palestinian civilians receive treatment on the floor at the overcrowded emergency ward of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, October 2023.
Location	Gaza Strip
Date	7 October 2023 (2023-10-07) – present[1] (2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 6 days)
Target	Palestinians
Attack type	Collective punishment, mass murder, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, bombardment, targeted killings, starvation, torture, urbicide, rape and sexual violence,[2][3][4] attacks on healthcare and preventing births[5][6][7]
Deaths	At least 59,200 reported directly killed (traumatic injury deaths)[a][b] More than 10,000 estimated under rubble[15] "Indirect" or non-traumatic injury deaths likely to be several times higher than those directly killed[c][18]
Injured	At least 143,000[8][19]
Victims	20% of population facing "catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity" involving "an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion"[20] 1,900,000+ internally displaced people[21][22] Damaging or destruction of approximately 92% of homes and 50% of buildings in Gaza[23][24][25][d]
Motive	Retaliation and revenge for the October 7 attacks[27][28][29] Anti-Palestinianism[30] and anti-Arab racism[31] Islamophobia[32][33] Zionism[34] Settler colonialism[35]
Accused	State of Israel, including the Israeli war cabinet, its government, the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of National Security Potential complicity includes:[36] United States Germany United Kingdom Egypt Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
Litigation	South Africa's genocide case against Israel Nicaragua v. Germany

According to these sources, Israel is committing acts of genocide that include mass killing, using starvation as a weapon of war, and killing healthcare workers and aid helpers. They also say that Israel destroys houses, hospitals and schools, and are forcing most people out of their homes, committing sexual violence, and preventing births.^[2]

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 60,000 people have been killed, and a UN-backed report states that the entire population is facing severe hunger.^[44]

Israel denies it is committing genocide, stating that its actions are self-defense against Hamas after the October 7 attacks. A case on this issue is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).^[45]

Overview

Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed during this genocide so far,^[46] and most of the victims have been women and children.^[47] The genocide was initiated by the October 7 massacre, in which militant groups killed over 1,200 people. Most of the victims were visiting or working in Israel.

South Africa v. Israel

Main article: South Africa's genocide case against Israel

The government of South Africa accused Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). They said that Israel had violated the Genocide Convention.

The ICJ allowed South Africa to bring its case, while Palestinians were recognised to have a right to protection from genocide.^[48] The court ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to stop any genocidal acts and to allow humanitarian service into Gaza.^[49][50] The court later ordered Israel to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza and to stop the Rafah offensive.^[51][52] Israel did not follow the orders.^[53][54]

Opinions

Many groups, including the United Nations,^[55] UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese,^[56] and Human Rights Watch have said that Israeli leaders and government want to commit genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza.^[55][57][58]

The Israeli government has denied South Africa's accusations and said that Israel is defending itself.^[50][59]

Public polls

According to a survey released in June 2025, 49% of Canadians and 38% of Americans agreed that "Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip".^[60][61]

According to a public opinion poll by YouGov plc released in April 2024, 46% of Swedes, 43% of Belgians, 34% of French people, and 33% of Germans agreed that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.^[62]

In a German poll from June 2025, 73% said that there was "some truth" to the claim that Israel was committing genocide.^[63]

According to a survey in May 2024, 71% of Spaniards thought Israel's actions were genocide.^[64][65]

In an Italian poll published in June 2025, 50% of people said Israel's military operation in Gaza "can be defined as genocide".^[66]

In a June 2025 British poll, 55% were against Israel's war on Gaza and 82% believed Israel was committing genocide.^[67]

A January 2024 poll of Israeli Jews found that 51% believed the Israel Defense Forces was using the right amount of force in Gaza, while 43% believed it was not using enough.^[68][69]

Related pages

• South Africa v. Israel
• Palestinian political violence
• 7 October 2023 attack on Israel

Notes

1. Per the Gaza Health Ministry and Government Information Office,^[8] which has previously been deemed reliable by prominent and independent organisations.^[9][10] In the same period at least 930 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank.^[11][12]
2. A larger estimate of 64,260 exists for total direct deaths between the start of the conflict until the end of June 2024, and likely exceeding 70,000 by October 2024.^[13] As of January 2025, this number would have increased to around 80,000.^[14]
3. • Using methods described in The Lancet, Devi Sridhar, the chair of global health at the University of Edinburgh, wrote in a September 2024 editorial that "the total deaths since the conflict began would be estimated at about 335,500 in total".^[16]
   • In addition to direct deaths, armed conflicts result in indirect deaths "attributable to the conflict". Mortality due to indirect deaths could be due to a variety of causes, such as infectious diseases.^[17]
   • Geneva Declaration Secretariat 2008, p. 4 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFGeneva_Declaration_Secretariat2008 (help): "The ratio of people killed in war to those dying indirectly because of a conflict is explored in the chapter on indirect deaths (INDIRECT CONFLICT DEATHS). Studies show that between three and 15 times as many people die indirectly for every person who dies violently."
4. The destruction includes:^[8][26]
   

   • at least 436,000 homes
   • 496 educational facilities
   • 267 places of worship
   • 22 hospitals are partially functional
   • 83% of groundwater wells are not operational