LAHORE: Amnesty International has released a report accusing Israel of committing acts amounting to genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
According to the organization, Israel’s actions have resulted in killings, serious damage and the deliberate creation of conditions aimed at the physical destruction of Palestinians in the region.
The report, titled “You feel subhuman”: Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gazapresents findings based on research conducted from October 2023 to July 2024. Amnesty concludes that Israel’s policies and actions were carried out with the intention of destroying a significant portion of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard stressed that the evidence collected shows a clear pattern of behavior in which Palestinians in Gaza have been treated as less than human, deprived of their basic human rights and subjected to conditions that resemble systematic destruction.
The investigation focuses on Israel’s responsibility as a state under the Genocide Convention, to which it is a signatory. The report emphasizes that acts of genocide committed by state organs or affiliated groups entail the legal responsibility of the state.
According to the report, the conflict has had horrific consequences, with 13,319 Palestinian children dead as of October 7, 2024 and a total death toll of 44,532 Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, more than 105,000 people have been injured since the start of the Israeli offensive. Amnesty also highlighted the significant impact on other vulnerable groups, including journalists and aid workers.
Furthermore, the report highlights the massive destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure. By mid-2024, satellite images indicated that approximately 63% of Gaza’s buildings had been damaged or destroyed. Amnesty compares the level of destruction to no other conflict in the 21st century, describing it as unprecedented in scale.
The human rights organization also links Israeli military operations to broader genocide concerns. The report asserts that Israel’s actions, particularly after the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, meet the criteria for genocide under international law. While this report covers key aspects of the situation, Amnesty notes that a more comprehensive review will be possible once the current offensive ends.
In addition to Gaza, the report addresses Israel’s actions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including violent attacks against Palestinians, mass arrests, arbitrary detentions and continued settlement expansion. These concerns are the subject of a separate and ongoing investigation.
The report also revisits the legal definition of genocide, which includes acts such as massacres, causing harm to a group and inflicting conditions resulting in the physical destruction of the group. These actions must be carried out with the specific intent of destroying the group in whole or in part.
Amnesty’s findings urge the international community to take immediate action. Callamard warned that Israel continues to defy international warnings and court rulings, adding: “This is genocide. This must stop now.
Amnesty’s recommendations call for a ceasefire to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid to Gaza. The organization demands that Israel cease its actions that violate international law, including airstrikes targeting civilians, forced displacement and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. Furthermore, Amnesty urges Israel to allow unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and to cooperate fully with international judicial bodies such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
