The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has passed a resolution stating that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under the 1948 UN convention. The resolution was backed by 86% of members who voted, representing 28% of the association's 500 members.
The resolution calls on Israel to immediately cease all acts constituting genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including deliberate attacks on civilians, starvation, deprivation of humanitarian aid, and forced displacement. It also recognises that the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 itself constitutes international crimes.
Melanie O'Brien, IAGS president and professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, described the resolution as a definitive statement from experts that what is happening in Gaza is genocide. The IAGS, founded in 1994, has previously adopted resolutions on historical genocides such as the Armenian genocide.
Israel is already facing genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. There was no immediate response from the Israeli foreign ministry.
