Amnesty International just released a sweeping 300-page report accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The report's central allegation, delivered by Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard, claims that "Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physically destroy them." The organization builds this accusation on an investigation of 15 airstrikes between October 2023 and April 2024, which they say killed 334 civilians, including 141 children.
Yet these claims encounter serious legal hurdles when measured against the UN Genocide Convention's definition, which requires proving specific intent to destroy a protected group. Military and legal experts point out that Amnesty's sample of 15 airstrikes represents less than 1% of total military operations, making it statistically insignificant for proving systematic intent.
The report relies on satellite imagery, field surveys, and direct testimonies from Gaza residents. Amnesty claims it found "no evidence that these strikes were targeting military objectives." However, this conclusion overlooks documented evidence of Hamas's military presence in civilian areas and the organization's well-documented use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
Israel's Foreign Ministry firmly rejected the accusations, calling the organization "deplorable and fanatical" and its report "fabricated, entirely false and based on lies." The ministry emphasized that Israel's military operations followed Hamas's October 7 attack that killed 1,200 civilians, and that Israeli citizens continue to face daily attacks on multiple fronts.
Amnesty's report notably omits vital context about Israel's military procedures, including its warning system for civilians before strikes, establishment of evacuation corridors, and coordination of humanitarian aid deliveries. These actions directly contradict claims of genocidal intent, as they demonstrate efforts to minimize civilian casualties rather than maximize them.
The IDF maintains it takes extensive measures to protect civilian life, pointing to its roof-knock warnings, phone calls, and leaflet drops warning of imminent strikes. Military experts note that while civilian casualties in urban warfare are tragically high, their occurrence doesn't automatically indicate genocidal intent under international law.
William Schabas, a leading expert on genocide law, has consistently maintained that high civilian casualties alone don't constitute genocide without proving specific intent to destroy a protected group. The International Court of Justice has upheld this high standard of proof in previous cases.
The report's broader claims about Israel's "total siege" of Gaza similarly ignore crucial context about Hamas's role in the humanitarian crisis. Evidence shows Hamas has repeatedly prevented civilian evacuations and diverted humanitarian aid, factors that significantly impact civilian suffering but receive minimal attention in Amnesty's analysis.
i24 News contributed to this article.
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