Perdana! Two Israeli Human Rights Groups Accuse Their Country Of Genocide In Gaza

Palestinian casualties from Israeli attacks. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - Two well-known human rights organizations (HAM) in Israel accuse their country of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, Palestine and demand that the government take responsibility.

Human Rights Groups BTselem and Physicians for Human Rights published a new report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, as the death toll in the Palestinian enclave since the latest conflict broke out in 2023 continues to grow, including the death toll from hunger.

"The rejection of Israel's policies in the Gaza Strip and its dire impact, along with statements by senior politicians and Israeli military commanders about the purpose of the attack, leads to firm conclusions that Israel is taking coordinated and intentional action to destroy Palestinians in the Gaza Strip," read a statement in the report. July 28.

"In other words, Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip," he said.

In a press conference in East Jerusalem, Orly Noy, chairman of the executive council BTselem, said: "This crime must be stopped immediately. The main responsibility rests with Israel, but also in the hands of the international community, which must use all means to stop crimes that still occur only 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from here."

Meanwhile, Yuli Novak, executive director of BTselem, said: "The definition of genocide is a coordinated attack with the aim of destroying a group. Over the past 22 months, we have witnessed the destruction of unprecedented civilians, intentional hunger, and mass forced evacuation. Gazans fled, were bombed, and starving, fully stripped of humanity and their rights."

Israel has not responded to the report, but has repeatedly rejected allegations of genocide.

Israel said it had taken steps to reduce losses to civilians and accused Hamas of instilling in civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed accusations that Israel is implementing a deliberate policy toficial Gazan civilians.

It is known that the latest conflict in Gaza broke out after a Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 people dead and another 251 held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

Israel responded to this by blocking, airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip region.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group agreed to a ceasefire as well as exchange of hostages and detainees on January 19. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. The majority of the initial hostages have been released through diplomatic negotiations, although the Israeli military has also released several hostages.

On March 2, Israel again carried out a total blockade against Gaza on the pretext of pressuring Palestinian militant groups to agree on a ceasefire proposed by the United States and a exchange of hostages. Over the end of the ceasefire agreement, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18.

As of Sunday, Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip since the latest conflict broke out have reached 59,821, while 144,851 others have been injured, according to a medical source in Gaza, quoted from WAFA.