Amnesty Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza

Amnesty International has released a report accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The report, spanning nearly 300 pages, examines a series of airstrikes alleged to have resulted in the deaths of at least 334 civilians between October 2023 and April 2024. Amnesty claims these attacks were not aimed at military targets, revealing a pattern of destruction and harm towards the Palestinian community.

The report draws from interviews with Palestinian survivors, medical personnel, and satellite imagery, as well as statements from Israeli officials. It concludes that Israel's actions are consistent with those defined as genocidal in the Genocide Convention, suggesting an intent to systematically destroy the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Amnesty's Secretary-General, Julia Duchrow, has called for an immediate ceasefire and a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel. She warns countries supplying weapons to Israel, including Germany, of the risk of complicity in genocide. The ongoing conflict was sparked by a large-scale attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, which claimed over 1,200 lives, according to Israeli sources.

In response, Israel has launched extensive military operations in Gaza, reportedly resulting in over 44,500 Palestinian deaths, a figure from the Hamas-controlled health authority that has not been independently verified. Israel defends its actions by accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields and storing weapons in humanitarian zones.

Amnesty plans to release a separate report on the Hamas attack, identifying it as containing potential war crimes. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with widespread destruction and a looming famine exacerbating the crisis.