Amnesty International Labels Israeli Actions in Gaza as Genocide

Human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, declaring that since the outbreak of the conflict last year, Israel has been engaging in genocide against the Palestinian people.

In its latest report, the organization describes the ongoing violence as a “wake-up call” for the international community. According to the report, the findings are based on statements by Israeli officials, satellite images, and on-the-ground evidence, painting a disturbing picture of intentional violence aimed at the Palestinian population.

Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard, stated that for months, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as subhuman, unworthy of dignity or respect. She expressed that this conduct reflects Israel’s deliberate intent to eradicate the existence of Palestinians.

Callamard further asserted that the evidence in the report should serve as a warning to the international community, describing Israel’s actions as genocide that must be halted immediately.

While Israel has consistently denied charges of genocide, accusing Hamas of using Palestinians as human shields, Amnesty insists that the presence of military objectives does not rule out the possibility of genocidal intent. Callamard pointed to incidents in the report where Hamas was not present, and no military purpose was evident, questioning the rationale behind the attacks.

The report highlights several incidents, including 15 attacks between October 7, 2023, and April 20, 2024, that resulted in the deaths of 334 civilians, including 141 children. Amnesty found no evidence to suggest that these attacks were aimed at military targets.

Amnesty also noted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are being subjected to food shortages, disease, and slow death. Since the conflict began, at least 44,532 people have lost their lives in Gaza.

Amnesty International further mentioned that a report on Hamas’s crimes during the October 7 attacks, which killed 1,208 people in Israel, will be published separately.