Amnesty International accuses Israel of “genocide” in Gaza against the Palestinians

GAZA – This is a documented report based on field research, satellite images and statements by senior Israeli officials. While humanitarian aid in Gaza remains insufficient and the UN warns of looming famine, Amnesty International accused the State of Israel in a report on Wednesday, December 4, of “commit genocide” against the Palestinians in the enclave. The NGO called on the international community not to surrender ” accomplice “.

This 300-page report highlights “enough evidence to conclude that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip” since the start of the war, says Amnesty International. The NGO explains that it is based on the legal definition of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. According to the latter, genocide is characterized by “acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. »

“Our research thus proves that 3 acts constituting genocide were indeed committed in Gaza”affirms Amnesty, out of the 5 possible according to the 1948 Convention. Only one of these acts is necessary to qualify as genocide and the organization specifies that this act must have been committed with “specific intent to destroy”.

“Living conditions leading to slow death”

The first point targeted by Amnesty consists of the “murder of group members”. Israel is also responsible according to Amnesty for“serious attacks on the physical and mental integrity of the members of the group”. In addition to the injured, the report denounces “several generations who disappeared under the bombs” and psychological aftereffects “immeasurable” among the Palestinians.

Since the start of the war launched in retaliation by Israel, 44,532 people have died in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health, deemed reliable by the UN. The NGO points to the deaths of more than 13,000 children among them.

Last point, the “Submission to living conditions leading to slow death”. Israel decreed from October 2023 a “full seat” of the territory, which has nearly 2.4 million inhabitants, with the following slogan: “No electricity, no water, no gas”and now imposes severe restrictions on the delivery of aid. The Palestinians are subjected to “malnutrition, starvation and disease”who “expose to a slow, calculated death”says Amnesty. The group also mentions the destruction of the health system, the forced displacement of 90% of the population and the virtual impossibility of delivering humanitarian aid to help Gazans.

“Genocidal intent”

“Month after month, Israel has treated the Palestinians of Gaza as a group of subhumans, unworthy of respect for human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intention to physically destroy them”said the organization's secretary general, Agnès Callamard, during a press conference in The Hague. If Israel highlights its right to defend itself against Hamas, “let’s be clear: military objectives can coincide with genocidal intent”she added.

“The deplorable and fanatical organization Amnesty International has once again produced a fabricated, completely false report based on lies”for his part indicated a spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations of “genocide” made against him, accusing Hamas of using civilians as “human shields”.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people on the Israeli side, the majority civilians, according to an AFP count based on official figures and including hostages killed or died in captivity.

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