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Double Accusation On Israel: “Genocide” And “Ethnic Cleansing” In Gaza – Is History Repeating Itself?
Israel is under fire once again, accused of “acts of genocide” and exhibiting “signs of ethnic cleansing” in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
These charges, levied by international organizations like Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), show the grim reality of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. Israeli authorities have vehemently dismissed the accusations as “lies” and “fabrications,” calling them baseless propaganda.
Water Crisis Weaponized?
A damning HRW report alleges that Israeli authorities have systematically deprived Gaza’s population of water, leading to thousands of deaths and a cascading humanitarian disaster. The report accuses Israel of deliberately targeting water and sanitation infrastructure while blocking fuel essential for generator operations. HRW claims these actions amount to the war crime of “extermination” and “acts of genocide.”
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the allegations, stating that it has ensured the continuous flow of water and maintained operational desalination facilities, even under the relentless attacks from Hamas. COGAT, the Israeli defense body, further emphasized that three water pipelines from Israel to Gaza remain functional, dismissing the claims as “false.”
Devastation on the Ground
The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 Israelis, has since escalated into a devastating conflict. Israeli retaliatory strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 45,129 Gazans, with a majority reported as civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. These figures, considered reliable by the UN, outline the staggering human toll of the war.
MSF has added fuel to the fire, stating that its teams have witnessed atrocities consistent with genocide. Their report details forced displacement, mass killings, and dire living conditions for Palestinians, labeling these actions as unmistakable “signs of ethnic cleansing.”
A Divided International Response
Meanwhile, the United States which prides itself on ‘Human Rights’ advocate has distanced itself from HRW’s genocide claims, citing the high legal threshold required to establish such a determination. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized that the U.S. disagrees with the findings.
Meanwhile, Israel has doubled down on its narrative, accusing organizations like HRW and MSF of spreading anti-Israel propaganda. The Israeli foreign ministry labeled MSF’s claims as “fabricated” and reaffirmed that it does not target medical personnel or civilians uninvolved in terrorist activities.
Proving Genocide
Under international law, proving genocide requires concrete evidence of specific intent to destroy a particular group—a legal standard that experts acknowledge is exceedingly difficult to meet. However, recent events and statements have intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated an October 2023 declaration by then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who announced a “complete siege” on Gaza, stating, “No electricity, no food, no water, no gas—it’s all closed.” This statement has been cited as indicative of intent, a crucial element in genocide accusations.
Adding to the legal pressure, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, and Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military chief. Israel has announced plans to appeal the warrants.
HRW’s Evidence and Humanitarian Crisis
HRW’s report, based on nearly a year of research involving interviews with Gazans, health officials, and analysis of satellite imagery and data, details the catastrophic impact of water shortages in Gaza. Dehydration has left the population vulnerable to infections, complications, and even death. A harrowing account from an emergency room nurse revealed that staff had to make impossible decisions, such as not resuscitating severely malnourished and dehydrated children.
Ethnic Cleansing vs. Genocide
The HRW report and other allegations also touch on the concept of ethnic cleansing, a term that emerged during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
Ethnic cleansing involves forcibly removing a population from a specific area through violent means, including murder, torture, and rape. While related, ethnic cleansing is distinct from genocide, which focuses on the destruction of a group based on nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion.
Notably, ethnic cleansing is not recognized as an independent crime under international law, unlike genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. However, UN Security Council resolutions have addressed ethnic cleansing, beginning with those during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s.
Notorious Cases of Alleged Ethnic Cleansing Since World War II
The global history of alleged ethnic cleansing paints a grim picture of humanity’s failure to prevent systematic atrocities. Here are some of the most infamous examples:
1. Balkans: The Yugoslav Wars (1990s)
In the aftermath of Yugoslavia’s breakup, Serbian leaders were accused of ethnic cleansing to establish a “Greater Serbia.”
Bosnia (1992–1995): Over a million ethnic non-Serbs were forcibly displaced, and thousands were killed.
Croatian War (1991–1995): Both Bosnian Croat forces and Croatia’s army faced similar accusations during this period.
2. Darfur, Sudan (2003)
The Sudanese government deployed the Arab “janjaweed” militias to suppress a rebellion in Darfur, resulting in devastating consequences:
Casualties: An estimated 300,000 people killed.
Displacement: Over 2.5 million driven from their homes.
Methods: Systematic rapes, killings, looting, and the burning of villages.
3. Myanmar: Rohingya Crisis (2017)
Myanmar’s military crackdown in Rakhine state led to widespread allegations of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Impact: Hundreds of thousands fled to neighboring Bangladesh, reporting atrocities such as murder, rape, and arson by soldiers and mobs.
4. Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia vs. Azerbaijan (2023)
Recent accusations have surfaced of ethnic cleansing in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region:
Armenia’s Claim: Azerbaijan forced the exodus of ethnic Armenians following its military victory.
Azerbaijan’s Response: Denial of the accusations, asserting intentions to reintegrate Armenians as equal citizens.
Historical Context: Distrust fueled by two brutal wars (1990s and 2020) and the enduring memory of the 1915–1917 Armenian massacres under the Ottoman Empire, which some countries recognize as genocide.
The Human Toll
In each of these cases, survivors recount stories of unimaginable suffering—forced displacement, mass killings, systematic violence, and deep-seated distrust between communities. For many, the scars of these conflicts remain, perpetuating cycles of hatred and mistrust.
Unanswered Questions
From Bosnia to Darfur and Myanmar to Nagorno-Karabakh, the world’s inability to prevent or address ethnic cleansing shows the fragility of international law and the limitations of global governance. With each incident, the call for justice grows louder, but so too does the weight of unanswered atrocities.
As the legal battles unfold, accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Israel continue to polarize the international community But for people in Gaza, sadly it holds no grip as they continue to suffer even as the word debates.