Israel's actions in Gaza meet 'legal definition of genocide,' scholars' association says
LONDON -- The world's largest association of academic scholars studying genocide passed a resolution saying Israel's "policies and actions" in Gaza "meet the legal definition of genocide," established by the U.N. in 1948, the organization said in a release.
The International Association of Genocide Scholars also said Israel's "policies and actions" in Gaza amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, in the release on Monday.
The organization called on Israel to "immediately cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza, including deliberate attacks against killing of civilians including children; starvation; deprivation of humanitarian aid, water, fuel, and other items essential to the survival of the population," the release said.
The organization said that the Hamas-led terrorist attack on the state of Israel, which began the war on Oct. 7, 2023, "constitutes international crimes," but since then, the government of Israel had engaged in systematic and widespread crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. Israel's attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, homes and commercial buildings in Gaza are included in the association assessment.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the IAGS's resolution "an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard," and said the resolution was based on "Hamas's campaign of lies," in a post on X Monday.
What is the International Association of Genocide Scholars?
The association is made up of scholars, academics, researchers, policymakers and civil society members, a member of the association's executive board told ABC News.
The association, founded in 1994, is a "global, interdisciplinary, non-partisan organization" that holds conferences and co-publishes a scholarly journal on genocide studies and prevention.
Out of the association's 500 members, 28% took part in the vote -- surpassing the Association's requirement that 20% participate in all resolutions. Of those who voted, 86% supported the resolution, according to the association.
What does this resolution do?
The resolution will help to inform any cases that go before the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court at the Hague, the organization's spokesperson said.
Israel is currently fighting a case at the International Court of Justice where the state of Israel has been charged with alleged state responsibility for violations of the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention.
