Tel Aviv (TDI): In a rare and striking move, two of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations have accused the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza, marking the first time such allegations have come from within the country itself.
In separate reports released on Monday, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI) painted a grim picture of the humanitarian and legal fallout from Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have continued for nearly two years.
In a joint statement, the groups said, “In these dark times, it is especially important to call things by their name. This crime must stop immediately.”
The Israeli government swiftly rejected the charges. Government spokesman David Mencer responded by saying, “Our defense forces target terrorists, not civilians. Hamas is responsible for the suffering in Gaza.”
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At a press conference in Jerusalem, B’Tselem’s executive director Yuli Novak acknowledged the weight of the accusations, calling the organization’s 88-page report “a document we never imagined we’d have to write.”
The report examines Israeli policy in Gaza since October 2023 and concludes that the state’s actions represent a “coordinated effort to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip.”
Meanwhile, PHRI’s 65-page report focuses on the collapse of Gaza’s health infrastructure. It accuses Israeli forces of deliberately and systematically dismantling medical facilities, obstructing humanitarian aid, and targeting healthcare workers.
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Dr. Guy Shalev, executive director of PHRI, stated, “The global health community cannot remain silent. Genocide is not just a legal term, it’s a call to act.”
According to PHRI, these actions are not isolated incidents of wartime excess but rather part of a broader policy with genocidal intent. The report argues that Israel’s conduct satisfies at least three criteria laid out in Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
