Breaking years long silence
Two Israeli human rights groups have for the first time accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, saying military actions since late 2023 amount to a deliberate plan to destroy Palestinian life and society.
B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights‑Israel published detailed accounts of mass killings, forced flight of families, and damage to basic services that they say meet legal tests for genocide under international law. Their findings mark a turning point in public debate inside Israel, where such charges have long been seen as beyond acceptable criticism.
Findings from field work
B’Tselem’s report says Israeli forces have hit nearly every neighborhood in Gaza with air strikes that destroy homes and cut off water and power for millions of people. The group documents that more than nine out of ten buildings in many areas now lie in ruins, and it reports that aid convoys face repeated delay or denial at border crossings The Washington Post.
Physicians for Human Rights‑Israel adds that at least thirty‑three medical facilities have been damaged or closed, making it almost impossible for doctors to treat the wounded or sick. The group says over eighteen hundred health workers have been killed or arrested, and they warn that absence of medicine and clean water has pushed countless families toward starvation.
Government reply and global view
Israel’s Foreign Ministry quickly rejected the genocide claims as baseless, stressing that it has allowed nearly two million tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza since hostilities began. A government spokesman said aid deliveries show no policy to kill or starve civilians and that all operations aim to hit only armed groups and their infrastructure Reuters. Yet the accusations come at a moment when global bodies voice rising concern.
The International Court of Justice is hearing a case brought by South Africa over alleged genocide, and United Nations agencies warn of a deepening hunger crisis that has already killed over one hundred people from starvation alone according to Gaza health officials The Washington Post.
Personal view
It matters that these critiques come from within the society that carries out the actions. When watchdogs tied to the state speak out, it raises new questions about how long a democracy can stand by while citizens suffer. And it shows that simple claims of self‑defense no longer satisfy many observers, who now demand proof of clear steps to protect civilians. I believe this moment could push Israeli leaders to adjust tactics or open new aid routes, but it could also deepen divisions at home, making any solution harder to find.
