New Report Claims Israel’s Actions in Gaza Amount to Genocide, Calls for Global Accountability

PALESTINE, RAKYAT NEWS – Amnesty International’s latest investigation concludes that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide against the Palestinian population. The comprehensive report, titled ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, asserts that Israel has been systematically carrying out acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip, particularly since its military offensive following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

The report highlights that Israel’s military actions have involved mass killings, physical and mental harm, and conditions deliberately designed to cause the destruction of the Palestinian population.

Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, Agnès Callamard, states that Israel’s conduct represents an intentional and coordinated effort to eliminate Palestinians in Gaza, labeling the situation as genocide. She further stresses that continued arms transfers to Israel by various states, including the U.S. and Germany, violate international obligations to prevent genocide, and urges global powers to act to halt these atrocities.

The scale of destruction in Gaza is unparalleled, with over 42,000 Palestinians killed, including 13,300 children, by October 7, 2024. More than 97,000 have been injured, many from indiscriminate or direct attacks on civilian areas.

The ongoing bombardment, alongside the suffocating blockade and the destruction of vital infrastructure, has caused widespread starvation, displacement, and disease, leading to what some survivors describe as apocalyptic conditions.

Amnesty’s research, based on interviews with 212 individuals, visual evidence, and public statements from Israeli officials, reveals a consistent pattern of dehumanization and genocidal rhetoric from Israel’s leaders.

Statements from high-level Israeli officials, as well as actions by Israeli soldiers on the ground, have frequently called for or justified genocidal actions, including the complete destruction of Gaza.

Amnesty International’s report also challenges Israel’s claims that its actions are solely aimed at Hamas. It argues that genocidal intent can coexist with military goals, and regardless of whether Israel’s primary objective is the destruction of Hamas, the extensive harm inflicted on Gaza’s civilian population points to a deliberate disregard for their lives and a genocidal mindset.

The report details numerous cases where Israeli airstrikes killed civilians, including children, and documented the destruction of entire families. Additionally, Israel has intentionally obstructed humanitarian aid, exacerbating the already dire situation. Forced displacements have left nearly 1.9 million Palestinians with no safe refuge, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

Amnesty International calls for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider adding genocide to its ongoing investigation into Israeli actions in Gaza. The organization also demands accountability for all perpetrators, including Israeli officials and armed groups, such as Hamas, responsible for the crimes committed on October 7, 2023.

Amnesty urges the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on officials most responsible for international law violations.

This report represents a clarion call to the international community to end Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestinians in Gaza and to hold those responsible accountable. (Uki Ruknuddin)