Accusations against the Israeli occupation of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip have escalated, while Israel continues to deny these charges. Increasing testimonies and studies confirm that military operations go beyond mere combat operations, systematically targeting the destruction of Palestinian society.

In an interview with Euronews, Professor Omar Bartov, an Israeli researcher specializing in Holocaust and genocide studies, confirmed that what is happening in Gaza amounts to genocide, emphasizing that statements made by the head of the occupying government, Benjamin Netanyahu, and several of his ministers, who described Palestinians as "human animals" and declared their intention to turn Gaza into "rubble," represent clear evidence of the intent to destroy the Palestinian people and make life in the enclave impossible.

Bartov pointed out that the military campaign launched by the occupation army since October 7, 2023, which included the destruction of the city of Rafah and leveling parts of it to the ground, and forcing residents to flee to coastal areas lacking shelter and services, aligns with the definition of genocide in the 1948 Convention. The "intent to destroy a national, ethnic, or religious group in whole or in part" is considered sufficient evidence of the crime.

In May 2024, the researcher changed his assessment of the military operations and began to describe them as genocide, based on increasing evidence indicating a premeditated intent by the occupation to carry out these acts. He confirmed that targeting hospitals, mosques, and cultural centers reflects a policy aimed at dismantling Palestinian society and preventing its reformation.

Despite the occupation's attempts to justify its operations as targeting "the eradication of Hamas," Bartov believes that the statements and actions of the occupation leaders show that the real goal is much broader, which is to destroy the Palestinians' ability to survive in Gaza. Estimates suggest that between 60,000 to 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, with another 140,000 injured, in addition to many chronic disease patients dying due to the collapse of the health system, as well as famine and lack of basic resources.

In a related context, the occupying government rejects the accusations against it before the International Court of Justice, after South Africa filed a lawsuit in December 2023 accusing the occupation of committing genocide against the Palestinians. However, Bartov believes that the length of international judicial procedures, which may last for decades as seen in Bosnia cases, does not exempt the international community from the responsibility to intervene immediately to stop these ongoing crimes.