New Delhi: The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), the world’s leading body of experts on mass atrocities, has formally declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide. In a resolution adopted on August 31, 86% of IAGS’s 500 members voted in favor, citing violations outlined in the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and international humanitarian law.
Key Findings of the IAGS Resolution
According to the resolution, since October 7, 2023, Israel has carried out systematic attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Gaza, resulting in catastrophic losses:
-
Over 63,500 killed and 160,000 injured, mostly women and children.
-
Indiscriminate bombings that displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
-
Destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and aid facilities, with some areas reporting 90% housing destruction.
-
Starvation tactics, including bombing food warehouses, bakeries, and farms.
-
Denial of essential supplies such as water, medicine, and electricity.
-
Reports of sexual violence, torture, arbitrary detention, and attacks on journalists, doctors, and aid workers.
-
Statements by Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, interpreted as expressing intent to “destroy” Gaza’s population.
The resolution underscores that Israel’s actions target not just Hamas, but the entire civilian population of Gaza, with long-term consequences for Palestinian families and society.
Global Legal Context
The IAGS decision aligns with recent rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has three times found it “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide. The ICC has also issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with forced starvation and deliberate attacks on civilians.
What IAGS Demands
-
Immediate end to all acts of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
-
Israeli compliance with ICJ provisional measures and ICC proceedings.
-
Enforcement of international obligations under the Genocide Convention by all states.
-
International support for transitional justice and repair for Palestinians.
Leading Scholars Behind the Resolution
Prominent genocide experts backing the declaration include:
-
Melanie O’Brien (President, IAGS; University of Queensland)
-
Henry Theriault (Former IAGS President, Worcester State University)
-
Alexander Hinton (Former IAGS President, Rutgers University)
-
Gregory H. Stanton (Founding President, Genocide Watch)
-
Elisa von Joeden-Forgey (Keene State College)
Historic Stand
Since its founding in 1994, IAGS has recognized the Armenian, Rwandan, and Bosnian genocides. Scholars describe this latest resolution as one of the strongest condemnations in the organization’s history, marking a historic moment of academic consensus on the severity of Israel’s actions in Gaza.