Context:

Omer Bartov, a genocide scholar, argues that Israel's actions in Gaza post-October 2023 attack by Hamas indicate genocidal intent, despite initial reluctance to label it as such. Israeli military operations, as described by Bartov, systematically targeted infrastructure and civilians, making life unsustainable for Palestinians in Gaza. The intent, supported by statements from Israeli leaders, aims to make Gaza uninhabitable, forcing the Palestinian population to leave or suffer extreme deprivation. While Israel denies these allegations, numerous genocide scholars and international bodies have recognized these actions as genocide. This situation challenges the moral and legal framework established post-Holocaust, potentially eroding the credibility of Holocaust commemoration and the study of genocide if such actions are left unchecked and unaddressed by the international community.

Dive Deeper:

• Omer Bartov, a Holocaust and genocide studies professor, concludes that Israeli actions in Gaza constitute genocide, marked by systematic destruction and deprivation aimed at expelling or incapacitating the Palestinian population.

• Israeli leaders made public statements suggesting genocidal intent, including calls to make Gaza uninhabitable, as evidenced by military operations that destroyed infrastructure and essential services.

• Despite international laws against genocide, Israel denies these allegations, claiming lawful military conduct, yet the destruction and casualty figures from Gaza paint a dire picture of ethnic cleansing.

• The international response has been limited, with some countries expressing concern but failing to take significant action against Israel, which continues its military strategy in Gaza.

• This scenario creates a moral dilemma for Holocaust scholars, as the invocation of past victimhood by Israel to justify current actions undermines the universal lessons of the Holocaust and risks marginalizing its historical significance.