The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) recently passed a resolution declaring that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute “genocide.” According to the association, Israel’s policies and operations in Gaza meet the legal criteria under the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as acts intended to partially or entirely destroy a specific ethnic or religious group. Among the association’s 500 members, 86% supported the resolution.
The Israeli government strongly rejected the ruling, calling it “entirely based on Hamas lies,” and reiterated that its military operations are acts of self-defense. Israel is currently facing proceedings at the International Court of Justice over genocide allegations. Since the escalation on October 7, Gaza’s health authorities report over 63,000 deaths, while UN global hunger monitors warn of localized man-made famine. The resolution calls on Israel to immediately halt acts including civilian killings, denial of humanitarian aid, forced displacement, and sexual violence.
IAGS President O’Brien emphasized that claims of self-defense do not justify war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel are also considered international crimes. The resolution has been endorsed by the Gaza government and is seen by many international law scholars as reflecting an emerging academic legal consensus on the Gaza conflict. Several human rights organizations and Israeli NGOs have long accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, and UN human rights staff have urged formally classifying the conflict as ongoing genocide.