Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, alleging that its actions during the ongoing conflict with Hamas have been aimed at deliberately destroying the Palestinian population. In a report released Thursday, the human rights organization condemned Israel’s attacks, the destruction of vital infrastructure, and the blocking of essential humanitarian aid as part of a broader strategy to bring about the “physical destruction” of Palestinians.
The accusations, outlined in Amnesty’s report, focus on Israel’s actions since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which ignited the current war. Amnesty stated that these actions could not be justified by Hamas’ assault or by the presence of militants within civilian areas. The group further asserted that Israel’s key allies, including the United States, could be complicit in genocide due to their ongoing support for Israel, calling for a halt to arms shipments.
Amnesty’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard, described the findings as a “wake-up call” to the international community, stressing that the situation constitutes genocide and must be stopped immediately.
However, Israel strongly rejected the allegations. The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the accusations as a false “blood libel,” and the government continues to deny any claims of genocide. Israel argues that it is engaged in a defensive operation against Hamas, which it accuses of carrying out a genocidal massacre during its initial attack, and insists that its military actions are in line with international law.
The report has attracted significant attention, with critics pointing out that such allegations could place Israel alongside other genocidal regimes in history, such as those responsible for atrocities in Cambodia, Sudan, and Rwanda. Pope Francis and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have also called for investigations into whether Israeli actions amount to genocide.
Amnesty’s investigation analyzed Israel’s conduct in Gaza from October 2023 to July 2024, noting the systematic destruction of homes, hospitals, farms, and essential services. The report highlighted 15 airstrikes in which at least 334 civilians, including 141 children, were killed, with no evidence that the strikes targeted military objectives. One particular strike on April 20 destroyed a family home in Rafah, killing three generations, including 16 children.
Israel, on the other hand, maintains that its military operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas’ militant infrastructure, and blames civilian casualties on Hamas, which it claims uses civilian areas to hide military assets. While Israel has facilitated some humanitarian aid deliveries, critics, including the UN, argue that these efforts have been insufficient, and aid has often been obstructed by Israeli restrictions.
As the war continues, Amnesty is calling on international powers, particularly the United States and Germany, to press Israel to end the conflict and ensure greater humanitarian access to Gaza.