Two Israeli human rights organizations—B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI)—have accused the Israeli government of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The move is a first.
In a report published on July 28, B’Tselem stated that its conclusion was based on an assessment of Israel’s policies in Gaza, the impact of its military operations, and public statements by senior Israeli officials.
For its part, PHRI released a separate legal and medical analysis supporting the claim, citing what it described as the deliberate destruction of Gaza’s health system.
The Israeli government has firmly rejected the accusations. Government spokesperson David Mencer said Israel "strongly rejects this claim," emphasizing that humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza. The foreign ministry described the reports as “politically motivated,” calling the genocide accusations “obscene” and “baseless.” It asserted that Israel targets Hamas, not civilians, and takes extensive measures to avoid civilian harm.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also dismissed the allegations as “entirely unfounded,” stating it facilitates humanitarian aid distribution in line with government directives.
Genocide has often been considered one of the worst crimes that could ever be committed against humanity. It is not a spontaneous act of violence, but rather a calculated and methodical process that unfolds over a long period of time, and usually in recognizable stages.
In 1996, a research professor published a briefing paper for the United States Department of State that outlined the stages of genocide, and he believed that such atrocities committed against humanity are predictable. Ever since, the professor’s model has been used as a crucial teaching point in genocide studies.
There are 10 stages to every genocide, and learning about them can help people understand how ordinary societies descend into extraordinary cruelty. Click through this gallery to see what they are.