Since October 2023, Israel has been conducting a genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza, massacring tens of thousands in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing intended to erase Palestinians from their land.
As of December 18, 2025, Israel has killed 70, 669 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The true death toll is estimated to be much higher, in the hundreds of thousands, as tens of thousands remain buried under rubble, unaccounted for. Accurate counts have become almost impossible as Gaza’s health system has been severely devastated.
Israel has destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, bombing almost every single hospital, all schools, all universities, daycares, homes, mosques, churches, water sanitation facilities, United Nations (UN) buildings, and more in Gaza.
Israel has dropped over 200,000 tons of bombs on Gaza, more than what was dropped (by weight) on Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Japan and on major cities during World War II. This is equivalent to approximately 13 Hiroshima bombs.
Israel has targeted and killed more journalists, healthcare workers, professors/teachers, and children than in any other war in modern history.
ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE IN GAZA ACCORDING TO UN AND OVER 100 HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
Israel’s current, ongoing assault on Gaza constitutes a genocide as it has systematically been targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure with intent to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part, which is the definition of genocide, according to the UN Genocide Convention (see more below).
Hundreds of human rights organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Amnesty International, have concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza (see more below).
According to a September 16, 2025 report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, which operates under the UN Human Rights Council, Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Commission said it “urges Israel and all States to fulfil their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible for it.”
“The Commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza,” said Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission. “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”
UN commission finds Israel meets 4 out of 5 ACTS* that define GENOCIDE under the UN Genocide Convention (also known as the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide), Article II:
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
- Killing members of the group;
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
* The UN commission found that Israel meets acts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In November 2024, a UN special committee found “Israel’s warfare methods in Gaza consistent with genocide, including use of starvation as weapon of war.”
Major human rights organizations that have concluded Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza:
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Genocide in Gaza
Amnesty International: Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza
United Nations (UN): Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds
Save the Children: Leaders of Major Aid Groups Call on World Leaders to Intervene Following UN Genocide Conclusion
Human Rights Watch (HCW): Israel’s Crime of Extermination, Acts of Genocide in Gaza
B’Tselem (Israeli human rights group): Our Genocide – B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel: Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip
Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security: Four Facts about Israel’s Genocide
International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS): IAGS Resolution on the Situation in Gaza
(includes Israeli genocide scholars Omer Bartov, Raz Segal, Amos Goldberg, Ilan Pappé, Lee Mordechai, Daniel Blatman, Shmuel Lederman, Eyal Mayroz)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently hearing a case brought by South Africa on December 29, 2023 accusing Israel of genocide: Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel). In an interim judgement of the case in January 2024, the ICJ stated that Israel is committing a plausible genocide and issued provisional measures ordering Israel to take all steps to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid. The ICJ has not yet made a final ruling, as determination of genocide as a legal fact is typically made by a competent national or international court years later.
On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts in Gaza.
ISRAEL HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING AND ETHNICALLY CLEANSING THE PALESTINIAIN PEOPLE SINCE 1948 AFTER FORMING ITS STATE ON STOLEN PALESTINIAN LAND
Israel’s ethnic cleansing campaign of the Palestinian people in Palestine/occupied Palestine has been going on for almost 80 years since the country was founded in 1948 through the killing, displacement, and dispossession of the Indigenous Palestinian people of the land, a process that continues to this day.
The state of Israel was formed through the partition of the British Mandate of Palestine (that was under British colonial rule) without the consent or consultation of the Palestinian people.
Today, Israel has almost completely decimated Gaza in its genocidal assault, reducing it to rubble, destroying more than 90% of civilian infrastructure with an estimated 377,000 Palestinians missing (massacred, dead under rubble etc.), according to a Harvard Dataverse analysis (June 2025).
Israel has destroyed Gaza’s health infrastructure, making it nearly impossible to record the true number of Palestinians killed, especially with thousands of people still buried under the massive amounts of rubble.
ISRAEL IS TARGETING CIVILIANS AND CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Israel has targeted more children, journalists, healthcare workers, aid workers, and academics than in any other warfare in recent history.
There are numerous accounts from international doctors and nurses who have volunteered in Gaza about children with sniper bullets to their heads and chests, targeted with precision as they were playing outside their home or walking down the street in their neighbourhood.
Israel’s systematic targeting of civilians has erased entire families and lineages in Gaza, and reduced entire neighbourhoods to rubble.
Israel has destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure, bombing hospitals, daycares, schools, universities, homes, mosques, churches, water facilities, UN buildings, and more.
It has repeatedly lied about ‘Hamas control and command centres’ being located under hospitals and schools, using this to justify its bombings. Even if this was true, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR BOMBING CIVILIAN AREAS WHATSOEVER.
Israel has also killed many of its own hostages, highlighting its indiscriminate assault on Gaza and that the ‘war’ it claims to be waging against Hamas and to get its hostages back is an outright lie.
From Turtle Island to Palestine: The Struggle Against Colonization and Genocide
Just as Canada’s Indigenous people faced colonization and erasure by European settlers, Palestinians, who are indigenous to Palestine (descending from ancient populations like the Canaanite who lived in the land for over 10,000 years), have been resisting colonization, occupation, and being erased by Israel for over a century when the Zionist project of Israel first began.
This is why Indigenous communities in Canada stand in tremendous solidarity with the Palestinian people, marching up front at rallies and showing support for the cause of a free Palestine.
Article link (Al-Jazeera): https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/13/palestines-and-turtle-islands-liberation-are-entwined
In 1948, the UN partitioned the British controlled ‘mandate of Palestine’ in 1948 to create Israel – it did so without the consultation and consent of the native Palestinian Arabs (see ‘More on Palestine: History,’ for more). This led to the expulsion and displacement of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and lands in the Nakba (catastrophe).
Many Palestinian families who were displaced during the Nakba still hold the keys to their homes in hopes of returning one day.
Israel has repeatedly denied the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and lands in sham ‘peace proposals’ and ‘two-state solutions.’
And it continues to steal Palestinian land by evicting Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank and demolishing them, and building illegal Israeli settlements.
Israel’s 18+ Year-Long Blockade of Gaza
Gaza, a small coastal strip bordered by Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea, has been under unlawful Israeli control since 1967.
In 2007, following Hamas’ political victory, Israel imposed a strict blockade, limiting Gaza’s access to essential supplies, freedom of movement, and economic opportunities. It fully controls Gaza’s sea, land and air space. In 2001, it destroyed Gaza’s only airport and has prevented its repair or the building of a new one.
For years, this blockade has left Gaza in a state of economic stagnation, with its people experiencing high rates of poverty and unemployment.
Human Rights Violations: Reports from humanitarian organizations from Amnesty International to Israeli human rights groups such as B’Tselem have continuously reported on Israel’s illegal blockade in violation of International law and its ensuing human rights abuses.
Gazans face limited access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare, while restrictions on travel impede their ability to work or seek medical treatment abroad.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Occupied Territories: Anatomy of a Genocide and Geoncide as Colonial Erasure
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, issued reports this year addressing severe concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Albanese’s March 2024 report titled ‘Anatomy of a Genocide,’ described extensive destruction in Gaza due to Israeli military operations, reporting over 30,000 Palestinian deaths, including thousands of children, and widespread displacement of around 80% of the population.
The report argues that these actions may meet the criteria for genocide, noting that Israel’s policies systematically inflict widespread suffering and aim to subjugate Palestinians as a population.
Albanese attributes this to what she terms a “genocidal logic” underpinning Israel’s military strategy, arguing that international law, including principles of jus in bello, has been manipulated to justify extreme violence against Palestinians
Anatomy of a Genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese
Albanese’s October 2024 report, ‘Genocide as Colonial Erasure,’ further highlights escalating violence in the West Bank.
In the report, she describes new Israeli military operations there as “Gaza-like” in severity, marked by curfews, food, and water deprivation, targeting of medical services, and forced displacement.
Albanese warns that recent policy shifts, like placing West Bank governance under civilian control, signify steps toward formal annexation. She emphasizes that these cumulative actions are part of a broader goal of territorial expansion, potentially amounting to systematic genocide aimed at erasing Palestinian presence from these regions
More on South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel: ICJ Finds Israel is Illegally Occupying Palestine and Committing a Plausible Genocide in Interim Ruling
On January 16 2024, the ICJ addressed allegations brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Gaza Strip. The legal action was initiated under the 1948 Genocide Convention, to which both South Africa and Israel are signatories.
The ICJ issued provisional measures, mandating that Israel take all necessary actions to prevent acts of genocide and to ensure that its military operations comply with international law. The Court emphasized Israel’s obligation to prevent and punish any acts of genocide, including incitement and conspiracy to commit such acts.
South Africa’s ICJ Case: In an unprecedented move, South Africa filed a case in the ICJ on December 29, 2023 alleging that Israel’s actions in Gaza could meet the criteria of genocide.
The claim centers on Israel’s long-standing blockade, military offensives, and policies in the occupied territories, which South Africa argues demonstrate an intent to destroy, in part, the Palestinian people. This legal case will require the ICJ to examine the evidence of systematic destruction, psychological and physical harm, and policies that restrict the survival of Palestinians in Gaza.
South Africa’s filing calls on the international community to scrutinize Israel’s policies through the lens of genocide, a classification that would compel stronger responses under international law. For instance, it could lead to sanctions, demands for reparations, and prosecution of officials involved in the planning and execution of military assaults.
Israeli government officials and current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been clearly stating their objectives to wipe out Gaza and its people, demonstrating intent for genocide that South Africa has documented in its case.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Palestinians as “human animals” and ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza, stating there would be no electricity, water, or food supplies.
Israel’s new Defense Minister Israel Katz (former Foreign Minister) said in October 2023, “They will not receive a drop of water or a single battery until they leave the world.” He called on Israel to evacuate/re-locate Palestinian civilians in the West Bank (where Hamas is not present) as part of their “anti-terror raids.”
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the destruction of Palestinian towns.
Israeli Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu stated, “there is no such thing as uninvolved civilians in Gaza” and that the use of nuclear weapons against Hamas would be an option.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called on emigration from Gaza and resettling it with Israeli settlers. He has been part of conferences and campaigns to “resettle Gaza,” which is illegal under international law.
Netanyahu compared Palestinians to the ancient biblical enemy of the Jewish people, the Amalekites. In the Book of 1 Samuel 15:3, the prophet Samuel instructs King Saul to “attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” Netanyahu specifically referenced Amalek on October 28, 2023, invoking the biblical command to “remember what Amalek has done” and asserting that Israel must “fight” with a strong resolve.
This rhetoric, combined with increasingly brutal military assaults, has led some observers, including South Africa’s representative at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to argue that these statements demonstrate genocidal intent, potentially meeting the legal threshold under international law (see below for the ICJ’s rulings on Israel’s plausible genocide).
However, the US continues to support Israel on the international stage, continually vetoing UN resolutions to recognize a Palestinian state, in opposition to international consensus.
The US is backing and driving the current assault on Gaza through the billions of dollars it continues to send to Israel and providing Israel with political and military support to embolden its genocidal actions.
Subsequent to this ruling, on March 28, 2024, the ICJ issued an additional order requiring Israel to prevent starvation in Gaza. This directive highlighted the necessity for Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid and basic services, including water, food, and electricity, by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points.
Israel, including Israeli citizens, has been blocking aid into Gaza and routinely cutting off electricity and communication networks.
The Court underscored the importance of land routes for aid delivery.
In June 2024, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its military operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, citing concerns that these actions could inflict conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian population in whole or in part. This directive was grounded in the Genocide Convention, emphasizing Israel’s obligation to prevent actions that could lead to genocide. The order was approved 13 votes to 2 by the justices on the court, with dissents from the judges from Israel and Uganda.
The ICJ’s decision also mandated that Israel maintain open the Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow the unhindered provision at scale of humanitarian aid to the region. Additionally, the Court ordered Israel to permit unimpeded access to Gaza for UN investigative bodies examining allegations of genocide.
Israel’s government rejected the ICJ’s ruling, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir describing it as the irrelevant order of the antisemitic court in The Hague, undermining international law.
On July 19, 2024, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, as illegal under international law. The Court emphasized that Israel’s actions, such as settlement construction, land appropriation, and movement restrictions, violate international law and infringe upon the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
The ICJ called for Israel to end its occupation immediately and to dismantle existing settlements. While advisory opinions are not legally binding, they carry significant moral and legal weight.
On October 28, 2024, South Africa submitted a comprehensive 750-page document to the ICJ, presenting evidence to support its allegations against Israel with respect to violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The submission is supported by more than 4,000 pages of exhibits and annexes, detailing evidence of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The memorial asserts that Israel has violated the Genocide Convention by promoting the destruction of Palestinians living in Gaza, physically killing them with an assortment of destructive weapons, depriving them access to humanitarian assistance, causing conditions of life aimed at their physical destruction, and using starvation as a weapon of war to further Israel’s aims to depopulate Gaza through mass death and forced displacement of Palestinians.
Israel has been given until July 2025 to respond to these claims.
What Needs to Be Done NOW
We must call on the Canadian government to help stop the genocide in Gaza by ending its complicity through an immediate, two-way arms embargo and sanctions on Israel.
Learn more about Canada’s involvement : https://stopthegazagenocide.com/2024/11/03/how-canada-is-involved/
Steps after ending the genocide include lifting the blockade on Gaza, along with the release of over 10,000 political prisoners that Israel has been holding unlawfully as hostages in its prisons, most without charge, and including hundreds of children.
Israel must also end its illegal, decades-long military occupation of all Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where it must also end the building of its illegal settlements.
For more on what you can do:
Stop the Gaza Genocide 
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