Amnesty International has released a report accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The report, titled “‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza,” details how Israel’s military offensive, launched after the Hamas attacks in October 2023, has led to widespread destruction and death in Gaza.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that Israel’s actions constitute genocide under the Genocide Convention, including killings, causing serious harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions intended to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. The report alleges that Israel has treated Palestinians as subhuman and unworthy of rights, demonstrating an intent to physically destroy them. The organisation calls for an immediate end to the violence and for states to stop supplying arms to Israel.
Over the past months, the crisis has escalated, particularly in North Gaza, where the population faces starvation, displacement, and constant bombardment. Amnesty’s research indicates that Israel has persisted in these actions despite warnings about the humanitarian situation and legal orders from the International Court of Justice. Israel claims its actions are justified by the need to eradicate Hamas, but Amnesty argues that genocidal intent can coexist with military goals.
Amnesty International’s investigation involved examining Israel’s actions, considering their recurrence and impact, analysing statements by officials, and concluding that Israel’s intent is the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza. The organisation emphasises that the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas do not justify Israel’s actions. International law recognises that genocide does not require the complete destruction of a group, only the intent to do so. The report covers the period from October 7, 2023, to early July 2024, based on interviews, fieldwork, evidence analysis, and official statements. Amnesty shared its findings with Israeli authorities but received no substantive response.
The scale of destruction in Gaza is unprecedented, with over 42,000 Palestinians killed, including over 13,300 children, and over 97,000 injured. The level of destruction is unmatched in any 21st-century conflict, leaving large parts of Gaza uninhabitable. Israel’s actions have created a deadly combination of malnutrition, hunger, disease, and displacement, effectively subjecting Palestinians to a slow death.
Amnesty International analysed statements by Israeli officials, finding dehumanising language and calls for actions that justify the genocide accusation. The organisation reviewed the context of Israel’s apartheid system, the blockade of Gaza, and the military occupation of Palestinian territory. Amnesty dismissed Israel’s claims about targeting Hamas and the diversion of aid as justifications for its actions. The report argues that Israel’s view of Palestinians as disposable demonstrates genocidal intent.
The report documents numerous instances of killing and causing serious harm to Palestinians, including air strikes that killed hundreds of civilians without evidence of military targets. The organisation also highlights how Israel deliberately inflicted conditions intended to destroy Palestinians, including damage to infrastructure, mass displacement through evacuation orders, and the denial of essential services and humanitarian aid. Despite opportunities to improve the situation, Israel has consistently refused to take necessary steps, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Israel’s repeated “evacuation” orders displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, leaving them in inhumane conditions.
Amnesty International urges the international community to take action to end the alleged genocide, criticising the delayed calls for a ceasefire and the continued arms transfers to Israel. The organisation calls for the arrest of Israeli officials indicted by the International Criminal Court and urges the ICC to investigate the crime of genocide. Amnesty demands the release of civilian hostages and accountability for Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups responsible for the October 7 attacks. The organisation also calls for targeted sanctions against officials implicated in crimes under international law.