The report issued by B’Tselem outlined several elements they argue meet the legal definition of genocide under international law. Among the cited points were the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, large-scale razing of cities, starvation and siege conditions, and the near-total displacement of Gaza’s two million residents. “In other words: Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” the report stated.

The rights groups emphasized that this conclusion was not reached lightly. At a press conference in Jerusalem, B’Tselem director Yuli Novak explained that the devastation of the last 22 months forced the organization to confront a reality “we never imagined we would have to write.” Novak added that while they did not diminish the severity of Hamas’s October 7 attack, Israel’s response had gone far beyond military retaliation.

As part of their case, B’Tselem cited inflammatory language used by Israeli officials to demonstrate genocidal intent. Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Palestinians in Gaza as “human animals,” and other politicians have openly called for the full expulsion of Gaza’s population.

Israeli Denials And Ongoing Legal Disputes

Israeli officials have firmly rejected the genocide label. Government spokesman David Mencer argued that the military targets only Hamas fighters and that nearly two million tons of humanitarian aid have been allowed into the territory. The Israeli government maintains it is at war with Hamas, not Palestinians as a whole.

Speaking earlier at the International Court of Justice—where South Africa has filed a genocide case against Israel—legal adviser Tal Becker stated that Israel’s military actions are defensive, not genocidal. “What Israel seeks by operating in Gaza is not to destroy a people, but to protect its people, who are under attack on multiple fronts,” he said.

Nonetheless, the reported civilian death toll—over 59,000, including thousands of children, according to Gaza’s health authorities—has drawn mounting international criticism. While Israel claims that up to 20,000 Hamas fighters have been killed, it has not provided detailed evidence distinguishing combatants from civilians.

The Israeli military frequently justifies its operations by accusing Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as shields. However, B’Tselem argues that this cannot account for the scale of destruction. “Israel’s claim that fighters were present in civilian facilities, frequently without evidence, cannot justify such widespread, systematic destruction,” the group wrote.

Meanwhile, conditions for Gaza’s civilians continue to deteriorate, with widespread famine, displacement, and limited access to food and clean water. Longtime allies of Israel have increasingly expressed concern, citing the humanitarian toll as unacceptable.