Two prominent Israeli human rights organizations, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, accuse Israel of perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, asserting that Western nations have both a legal and ethical obligation to intervene.
Reports released on Monday by the groups claim that Israel has systematically targeted Palestinian civilians based on their identity throughout nearly two years of conflict, inflicting severe and often irreparable harm on Palestinian society.
While numerous international and Palestinian groups have previously characterized the war as genocidal, the latest assessments from these long-established organizations—known for documenting systemic violations—may intensify calls for international accountability.
The reports outline atrocities, including the deaths of tens of thousands of women, children, and elderly individuals, mass forced displacement, starvation, and the demolition of homes and vital infrastructure, which have left Palestinians without access to healthcare, education, and other fundamental rights.
"The evidence points to a deliberate campaign aimed at annihilating a civilian population," stated Yuli Novak, director of B’Tselem, urging immediate action. "Everyone must confront the question: What does one do when faced with genocide?"
Novak emphasized that genocide does not require a legal verdict to be recognized as such, describing it as both a legal crime and a societal reality.
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) focused its report on the systematic dismantling of Gaza’s healthcare system, relying partly on firsthand documentation from its teams, which operated in Gaza before October 2023. According to PHR director Guy Shalev, the devastation of medical infrastructure alone meets the criteria for genocide under international law, which prohibits deliberately imposing conditions meant to destroy a group "in whole or in part."
Shalev clarified that while not all elements of genocide must be present for the label to apply, the report also identifies additional genocidal patterns in Israel’s military actions.
Both organizations argue that Western countries bear responsibility by supporting Israel’s offensive. "This catastrophe would not be possible without Western backing," Novak said. "Leaders failing to act decisively are complicit."
Shalev insisted that the U.S. and European nations must take stronger measures under international legal obligations. "Every available measure must be employed—this is not an opinion, but a requirement under the Genocide Convention."
Israel rejects the genocide allegations, maintaining that its military operations in Gaza are acts of self-defense following Hamas' October 7 attacks, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in the abduction of over 250 hostages.
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