This sensitive topic is passionately opposed or defended depending on where you lie politically and morally. Genocide is a large claim to attribute to the actions of a country and one that is divisive, especially among world leaders and leading professionals in the law. According to an article by TIME, there are differences in opinions on this matter.
"Raz Segal, the program director of genocide studies at Stockton University, concretely says it is a 'textbook case of genocide.' Segal believes that Israeli forces are completing three genocidal acts, including, 'killing, causing serious bodily harm, and measures calculated to bring about the destruction of the group.' He points to the mass levels of destruction and total siege of basic necessities—like water, food, fuel, and medical supplies—as evidence."
Another section of the article reads:
"David Simon, director of the genocide studies program at Yale University, says that Israel has only explicitly said they want to exterminate Hamas, and has not directly stated intent to 'destroy a religious, ethnic or racial group.' Simon says it's possible a court could conclude that either Hamas or some elements of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) could be found guilty of committing an act of genocide, but 'it's certainly not textbook in that connecting the intent to destroy ethnic group as such is difficult.'"
U.S. Sec. Def. Lloyd Austin has also made a statement to Reuters.
"The United States does not have evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza as it carries out its war against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
'We don't have evidence of that,' Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee."
This paints an array of different opinions among scholars and government officials. The opinion that would initiate change would be that of a court of law that would therein persecute Israel for any crimes they have committed. While some may claim that the facts point to genocide, the divisiveness of the topic would label this claim as an opinion.
“US Has No Evidence of Unfolding Genocide in Gaza: Pentagon | Reuters.” Reuters.Com, 9 Apr. 2024, www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-has-no-evidence-unfolding-genocide-gaza-pentagon-2024-04-09/
Burga, Solcyré. “Is What’s Happening in Gaza a Genocide? Experts Weigh In .” Time, Time, 14 Nov. 2023, time.com/6334409/is-whats-happening-gaza-genocide-experts/.
