A group of "genocide scholars" declares Israel guilty in Gaza — but is it that simple?

A controversial vote by a genocide studies organization reignites debate over Israel’s war, forcing a harder look at what crimes may really be unfolding. The situation is bad, but genocide it is not.

The International Association of Genocide Scholars, a group of about 500 academics and others worldwide, this week declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Eighty-six percent of those voting endorsed a resolution which cited starvation, indiscriminate bombardment, and incendiary rhetoric by senior Israeli officials as evidence of genocidal acts. The announcement instantly made headlines — but also sparked fierce criticism about both process and substance.

Only about 120 members supported the measure, with most abstaining. Critics inside the organization — most prominently researcher Sara Brown — revealed that the usual open debate was canceled, muting dissenting voices. Others noted the resolution read more like a UN press release than a legal finding: it borrowed language from other groups, skipped over the actual definition of genocide, and failed to demonstrate the central element of intent to destroy a people as such. Some accused its drafters of misrepresenting what the International Court of Justice had said earlier this year, turning a procedural ruling into supposed proof. As one expert put it, the episode “looked like entryism” — a small group steering a larger body to issue a political manifesto masquerading as scholarly consensus.

Actually, the International Association of Genocide Scholars is somewhat silly as an authority. Not only academics but activists, students, journalists, museum professionals and artists are welcome. There’s no rigorous vetting of credentials or publications—what really matters is that you have some engagement with genocide-related issues. In practice, the only real filter for entry is the annual dues of as low as $30. One prominent author in the field told me he had never heard of the group; well, he has now! Genocide accusations are good business.

Indeed, a producer on the I24 TV channel was able to sign up today as a voting member of the august body in minutes by claiming unproven and nonexistent expertise in gender genocide and Yugoslavia. Watch the below video, which reconfirms the Marxist adage about the relationship between tragedy and farce.

Still, the seriousness with which the nonsensical and meaningless declaration was received underscores just how potent the word “genocide” has become in the Gaza discourse — and why the debate keeps coming back to it, however contested. It’s all over social media and appears increasingly in mainstream news, as global public opinion has dramatically turned against Israel.

Most Israelis, of course, view the accusation of genocide as obscene — rooted in antisemitism or ignorance about the diabolical nature of Hamas. The war began with a brutal massacre committed by Gazans, and the IDF insists it does not target civilians. But could there be something they’re refusing to see?

With the tragedy so great and tempers so badly frayed, what is really going on?

Until some years ago, I oversaw the Associated Press’s coverage of Europe and Africa, including our correspondent at The Hague, where we followed cases related to Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Sudan, and more. I know how genocide is defined — and how rarely it is proved. The bar is high, by design. Here’s how, and why.