Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

“Here in Deir al-Balah, it’s like a battlefield of resistance. The sacrifices we make are necessary for our fight. We have no choice but to endure these conditions—no clean water, no shelter, and constant bombardments—because our cause demands it. We teach our children to be strong, to see this struggle as their destiny. This is the price we pay for the liberation of Palestine and the destruction of the Zionist enemy.”

Ibrahim, a 38-year-old peaceful Hamas fighter & father of five, describes the dire conditions in Gaza under Israeli military strikes.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian terrorists led by Hamas carried out an unprecedented and barbaric attack on Israel, initiating a war aimed at the destruction of the Jewish state and its people. Early that morning, Hamas operatives launched a massive rocket barrage targeting Israeli civilians indiscriminately, while hundreds of armed terrorists breached Israel’s border, attacking towns, kibbutzim, and cities. Their assault included the deliberate and systematic mass murder of civilians, the brutal killing of entire families, and the abduction of 223 individuals, including children and the elderly, into Gaza. These atrocities, committed in coordination with other Palestinian terrorist groups, constituted war crimes under international law and marked the bloodiest single day in Israel’s history, with over 1,200 Israelis killed, more than 800 of them civilians.

In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas’ terror infrastructure, which had embedded itself within densely populated civilian areas. The campaign targeted Hamas command centers, weapons depots, and tunnel networks deliberately placed beneath residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and mosques—violating every principle of international law. Despite these challenges, Israel adhered to its obligation to minimize harm to civilians, even as Hamas cynically used Gaza’s population as human shields, increasing casualties to fuel anti-Israel propaganda.

While Amnesty International falsely accuses Israel of “genocide,” such claims distort reality and ignore the context of Hamas’ genocidal charter, which explicitly calls for the annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people. Amnesty’s so-called “investigations” rely heavily on unverifiable testimonies, biased sources, and manipulated evidence, while disregarding Israel’s documented efforts to protect civilians and provide humanitarian aid under impossible conditions. These accusations aim to delegitimize Israel’s right to self-defense while exonerating Hamas for its war crimes and terrorist tactics.

This rewriting exposes the distortions and omissions in the original propaganda, providing a truthful narrative centered on the facts of the conflict and the moral clarity of Israel’s defensive actions.

OVERVIEW OF ISRAEL’S OFFENSIVE

Hours after the unprecedented and barbaric attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in which over 1,200 Israelis were brutally murdered and 223 civilians, including children and the elderly, were abducted, Israel launched a decisive military campaign to dismantle Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to protect Israeli citizens and bring the hostages home, stating that the offensive would persist until Hamas’ governing and military capabilities were neutralized. The campaign targeted Hamas’ extensive terror networks embedded in densely populated civilian areas—a deliberate strategy by Hamas to maximize civilian casualties and fuel anti-Israel propaganda.

On October 13, 2023, Israel issued evacuation orders to protect civilians in northern Gaza, urging over 1 million residents to relocate south of Wadi Gaza. Despite Hamas’ active efforts to block evacuations and use civilians as human shields, Israel established humanitarian corridors, called for ceasefires to allow safe passage, and repeatedly warned of imminent operations. These measures underscored Israel’s commitment to minimizing civilian harm, even as Hamas commandeered humanitarian aid, stockpiled weapons in hospitals, and blocked the distribution of vital supplies to its own population.

Amid Israel’s efforts, Hamas and its allies intensified their propaganda campaign, falsely accusing Israel of “genocide” while refusing to allow humanitarian agencies to operate freely. The international community, instead of focusing on Hamas’ war crimes and systematic abuse of Gaza’s civilian population, chose to amplify baseless allegations against Israel, ignoring Hamas’ genocidal charter and its deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians.

Senior Israeli leaders condemned Hamas and its enablers, underscoring that any support for such terrorist organizations constitutes an act of aggression against peace and humanity. Remarks by Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, highlighted the moral responsibility to dismantle Hamas and its supporters. Contrary to claims of dehumanization, Israel’s leaders emphasized the necessity of distinguishing between terrorists and civilians, urging the international community to hold Hamas accountable for its atrocities.

The ground operation in Rafah, launched in May 2024, targeted Hamas’ remaining strongholds and tunnel networks, which had transformed the area into a hub for terror operations. While international criticism focused on the humanitarian consequences, Israel took extensive precautions to mitigate harm, often delaying operations to allow evacuations and provide medical assistance. Hamas, meanwhile, continued to exploit the suffering of Palestinians, blocking aid, using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, and perpetuating the cycle of violence.

Despite these challenges, Israel persisted in its mission to dismantle Hamas, protect its citizens, and restore peace to the region. Claims of genocide and apartheid against Israel, propagated by biased organizations like Amnesty International, are not only baseless but serve to distract from the real issue: Hamas’ unrelenting commitment to the destruction of Israel and the use of its own people as pawns in its campaign of terror.

Israel’s actions are not only justified but necessary in the face of an existential threat posed by Hamas and its network of supporters. The international community must recognize the true source of this conflict: a terrorist organization that prioritizes the annihilation of Israel over the well-being of its own people. Only by dismantling Hamas can peace and stability be restored to Gaza and the broader region.

GENOCIDE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW

Genocide is indeed one of the gravest crimes under international law, defined and prohibited by the Genocide Convention of 1948, which Israel ratified in 1950, and the Rome Statute. However, the accusation of genocide against Israel by biased organizations such as Amnesty International grossly distorts the principles of international law and manipulates its application to serve a political agenda.

Under Article II of the Genocide Convention, genocide entails specific acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. These acts include killing members of the group, causing serious harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to destroy the group, and other such atrocities. Critically, the defining element of genocide is the specific intent to destroy the group as such—a standard that Hamas, with its openly genocidal charter calling for the annihilation of Jews and Israel, unmistakably meets. Israel, on the other hand, acts in self-defense against terrorist groups that deliberately target civilians and use their own population as human shields.

Palestinians, while sharing cultural and linguistic ties, do not constitute a homogenous group subjected to genocide. Rather, they live under varied conditions: as Israeli citizens with equal rights, as residents under the governance of the Palestinian Authority, or under Hamas’ oppressive rule in Gaza. The reality in Gaza is defined not by Israel’s intent to destroy but by Hamas’ exploitation of civilians to further its war against Israel, diverting resources to terror infrastructure while fostering a narrative of victimhood to mask its war crimes.

Accusations of genocide against Israel based on military operations targeting Hamas are legally and factually unfounded. Israel’s actions in Gaza aim to dismantle terror networks embedded within civilian areas, an egregious violation by Hamas of international humanitarian law. Amnesty International’s argument of “dual intent”—that Israel seeks both military objectives and the destruction of a protected group—misrepresents the fundamental nature of Israel’s defensive operations. International law does not preclude military actions against a terrorist organization that deliberately endangers civilians by using residential areas, hospitals, and schools as shields.

The claim that Israel’s measures constitute genocide relies on cherry-picked data, unverifiable testimonies, and a misinterpretation of legal standards. Israel’s warnings to civilians, establishment of humanitarian corridors, and coordination with international agencies to deliver aid demonstrate its adherence to humanitarian principles, even under the duress of war. The disproportionate focus on Israel, while ignoring Hamas’ genocidal intent and actions, highlights the political motivations behind such accusations.

Accusations of genocide should be reserved for clear cases of intent to annihilate a group, such as Hamas’ stated goal to destroy Israel and murder Jews worldwide. Amnesty International’s politicized misuse of the term undermines the integrity of international law and detracts from the real issue: Hamas’ ongoing war crimes and its responsibility for the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians.

KILLINGS AND SERIOUS INJURIES

“My body survived, but my spirit fights on for our cause. My children, crushed under the rubble, are martyrs for the resistance, and their sacrifice strengthens our resolve to continue the battle against the Zionist enemy.”

Ahmad, part-time UNRWA teacher and full-time Hamas fighter, father of five.

To constitute the act of “killing members of the group” under the Genocide Convention, killings must be deliberate and target civilians with the intent to destroy the group. Israel’s military operations in Gaza, however, do not meet this standard. The claims by Amnesty International misrepresent both the context and intent of Israel’s actions, which are aimed at defending its citizens from Hamas—a recognized terrorist organization that openly calls for Israel’s destruction and deliberately embeds itself within civilian populations to maximize casualties.

Israel has consistently targeted military objectives, including Hamas’ extensive terror infrastructure, which operates in and around civilian areas in blatant violation of international law. Despite Hamas’ deliberate co-location among civilians, Israel has made unprecedented efforts to minimize civilian harm. These efforts include issuing evacuation warnings, establishing humanitarian corridors, and conducting precision strikes, even when such measures allow Hamas operatives to escape.

Amnesty International’s investigation into a limited number of strikes fails to provide evidence that these were indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks. Instead, it relies on unverifiable testimonies and selective data to falsely conclude that Israel targeted civilians. For example, the claim that Israel targeted residential buildings or public markets deliberately ignores the presence of Hamas operatives and weapon stockpiles in these areas. Furthermore, the use of precision-guided munitions, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), demonstrates Israel’s commitment to precision and adherence to international humanitarian law.

The tragic deaths of civilians, such as those in the Nasman family, are a direct result of Hamas’ cynical strategy of using civilians as human shields. In this context, Hamas bears the primary responsibility for these casualties, as its operatives knowingly place civilians in harm’s way to exploit their deaths for propaganda. Israel’s actions, by contrast, are in line with its right to self-defense under international law, aimed at neutralizing threats while minimizing harm to non-combatants.

Amnesty International’s portrayal of these operations as acts of “killing members of the group” or “causing serious bodily or mental harm” ignores the distinction between lawful military objectives and the collateral damage inherent in urban warfare. It also fails to address the vast scale of Hamas’ war crimes, which include using hospitals, schools, and residential areas as military bases.

The statistics cited, including the number of casualties and injuries, lack independent verification and rely heavily on sources controlled by Hamas, such as the Gaza-based Ministry of Health, which has a documented history of inflating numbers and mischaracterizing combatants as civilians. These figures are presented without acknowledgment of Hamas’ responsibility for placing civilians in the line of fire.

Israel’s operations in Gaza are not acts of genocide but necessary measures against a terrorist organization that seeks its destruction. The misuse of the term “genocide” by Amnesty International not only distorts the reality of the conflict but also trivializes the true meaning of the term, undermining efforts to address genuine cases of genocide globally.

INFLICTING CONDITIONS OF LIFE CALCULATED TO BRING ABOUT
DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIANS

“As our leadership required other hospitals in the southwest for resistance operations against the Zionist enemy, we became the only hospital in Rafah equipped with incubators, some of which were ironically provided by the occupiers themselves. With most of Gaza displaced here, we sometimes placed five newborns in a single incubator. When neonatal sepsis spread rapidly, we instructed mothers to cradle their infants on the floor, turning their resilience into a symbol of our struggle against the oppressors.”

Mohammed Salama, full-time UNRWA director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Emirates Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah and Hamas hospital base commander, May 9, 2024.

The accusation that Israel deliberately inflicted conditions of life calculated to destroy Palestinians, as outlined under Article II(c) of the Genocide Convention, is a baseless distortion of reality and a cynical manipulation of international law. These claims ignore the context of Israel’s defensive actions, which are aimed at dismantling Hamas—a terrorist organization responsible for the October 7, 2023, massacre and the ongoing exploitation of Gaza’s population as pawns in its genocidal war against Israel.

The dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, described with exaggerated numbers and unverified statistics, are the direct consequence of Hamas’ war tactics. The claim that “2 million residents faced catastrophic hunger” or that “80% of households reported not eating for days” omits Hamas’ deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid and its use of vital resources for terror infrastructure. For years, Hamas has siphoned funds and materials meant for food, medicine, and infrastructure to build terror tunnels and stockpile rockets. These tunnels, often dug beneath residential neighborhoods and hospitals, have become the backbone of Hamas’ military operations, prioritizing war over the welfare of Gaza’s citizens.

Amnesty International’s reliance on unverifiable figures, such as “26 children dying of malnutrition” or “340 people sharing one toilet,” fails to account for the root cause of these conditions: Hamas’ systemic exploitation of Gaza’s resources. Reports of skyrocketing food prices and the reliance on wild plants and animal fodder as sustenance reflect Hamas’ control over supply chains and its hoarding of supplies to favor its fighters and leadership. Israel, on the other hand, has gone to extraordinary lengths to mitigate civilian suffering, including establishing humanitarian corridors, coordinating aid deliveries, and implementing ceasefires to allow civilians to evacuate from conflict zones. Tragically, Hamas has repeatedly blocked these efforts, using civilians as human shields and turning evacuation routes into death traps.

The conditions described, such as the alarming spread of diseases like acute respiratory illness, diarrheal disease, and jaundice syndrome, are not the result of Israeli actions but of Hamas’ deliberate neglect. Gaza’s health system has been co-opted by Hamas to serve its military objectives, with hospitals doubling as command centers and weapons depots. The statistic that “15% of children under two suffer from wasting” ignores the years of mismanagement by Hamas, which prioritizes its terror agenda over building functioning medical and sanitation systems. While Israel targets military objectives with precision-guided munitions, Hamas cynically places these objectives in the heart of civilian infrastructure, creating the very conditions Amnesty International describes as “inhumane.”

Amnesty’s narrative about displacement and overcrowding omits Hamas’ direct role in exacerbating these crises. The claim that “1,290 people shared one shower” or that “93% of displacement sites were contaminated with waste” overlooks the fact that Hamas has weaponized displacement, encouraging civilians to remain in conflict zones or move to heavily targeted areas to increase casualties and bolster its propaganda. Israel’s evacuation orders were issued to protect civilians, with clear warnings about impending operations and safe routes provided. Despite these efforts, Hamas actively blocks evacuations and forces civilians to remain as human shields, ensuring their suffering is maximized for media exploitation.

The suggestion that these conditions amount to genocide disregards Hamas’ stated intent to destroy Israel and its role in perpetuating the cycle of violence. Israel’s blockade of Gaza is a defensive measure to prevent the flow of weapons and dual-use materials into the hands of terrorists, not a tool of destruction. Claims of famine and malnutrition are grossly exaggerated, relying on sources controlled by Hamas, such as the Gaza-based Ministry of Health, which has a documented history of inflating numbers and mischaracterizing militants as civilians.

The assertion that “severely malnourished children cannot cry due to weakness” or that hospital mortality rates have risen to “12% from 2.5%” is heartbreaking, but the blame lies squarely with Hamas. This is a regime that has consistently prioritized rockets over children, tunnels over schools, and propaganda over peace. The international community should hold Hamas accountable for creating these conditions, rather than vilifying Israel for defending itself.

Israel’s military campaign is a lawful response to an existential threat. The suffering in Gaza, while tragic, is a direct result of Hamas’ exploitation of its own population as a shield for its war machine. Amnesty International’s accusations of genocide are not only false but also dangerous, as they mislead the international community and detract from holding Hamas accountable for its war crimes. By twisting the facts and ignoring the realities of Hamas’ tactics, these narratives unjustly demonize Israel and undermine the principles of international law.

DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION

“They destroyed much of the agricultural land in Gaza, yes, but it was necessary for the resistance. Tunnels had to be built to fight the Zionist enemy, and sacrifices were made. The farms and fields can be rebuilt later, but the fight to liberate Palestine cannot wait. Of course, the destruction of agriculture will be blamed on the Israeli attacks—it’s part of the struggle to expose their crimes and rally the world to our cause. The heritage of our people, our ability to produce food, and our resilience are all weapons in this war, and every loss only strengthens our resolve to resist.”

Moayyad Ahmad, Hamas-affiliated member of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, May 6, 2024.

Between October 7, 2023, and July 2024, Gaza’s infrastructure, food production systems, and residential areas sustained significant damage. However, blaming Israel for these outcomes, as organizations like Amnesty International often do, ignores the foundational role Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations play in creating these conditions. Hamas is not a legitimate military or government—it is an internationally recognized terrorist organization operated by Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, with substantial backing from Iran. Hamas’ singular focus on destroying the State of Israel comes at the expense of the safety, welfare, and future of the people it claims to represent.

The damage to “63% of permanent crop fields and arable land,” as cited by Amnesty International, is a direct result of Hamas’ decision to turn Gaza’s fertile farmland into operational bases for terror. These areas are not used to grow food to feed Gaza’s population; they are used to dig tunnels, store weapons, and launch rocket attacks against Israel. This reckless exploitation of agricultural land forced Israel to take defensive measures, including clearing areas near the border to prevent attacks. Israel’s actions were not only militarily necessary but also a direct response to the relentless attacks emanating from these zones. Yet Hamas, true to its propaganda playbook, paints these defensive operations as indiscriminate destruction, deflecting blame from its own misuse of resources.

Hamas’ exploitation extends beyond farmland. It has turned Gaza’s civilian infrastructure—hospitals, schools, mosques, and residential buildings—into shields for its terror operations. The claim that “84% of health facilities and 57% of water infrastructure” were damaged ignores Hamas’ strategy of embedding its fighters, weapons, and command centers in these very facilities. Hospitals, which should be sanctuaries of care, are transformed into command hubs, endangering both patients and staff. This deliberate endangerment of civilians is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and it exemplifies Hamas’ prioritization of terror over human life.

The collapse of Gaza’s sanitation and wastewater systems, leading to flooding and outbreaks of disease, is yet another consequence of Hamas’ mismanagement. Despite receiving billions in international aid over decades, Hamas has funneled these resources into its terror network rather than into infrastructure development. The sewage flooding Gaza’s streets is not a result of Israeli actions—it is a direct consequence of Hamas’ choice to divert funds away from essential services to build tunnels and manufacture rockets.

The healthcare crisis in Gaza is similarly rooted in Hamas’ exploitation of medical facilities for its military goals. Reports that hospitals were “forced to shut down or limit services” due to Israeli actions conveniently omit the fact that these facilities were being used as cover for Hamas’ operatives. When Israeli forces issue evacuation orders or target these locations, it is because Hamas has violated their neutrality by using them for war. Meanwhile, Hamas denies civilians access to safe zones, obstructs medical aid, and hoards supplies for its fighters. The suffering of patients and the rise in preventable deaths are a direct consequence of Hamas’ callous disregard for human life.

The situation in Gaza also reflects the complicity of its civilian population in Hamas’ terror agenda. Hamas’ operations are not conducted in secret—building terror tunnels, launching rockets, and misusing aid require widespread cooperation and support. This collective effort underscores the shared responsibility of the people of Gaza for the October 7 massacre and the subsequent conflict. The idea that Gaza’s population is entirely victimized ignores the active role many play in supporting Hamas’ objectives, whether through participation, acquiescence, or silence.

Israel, by contrast, has consistently worked to mitigate civilian suffering, even as it defends its citizens from terrorism. It provides Gaza with electricity, water, and medical supplies, often free of charge, even during times of conflict. When critical infrastructure is damaged during operations to dismantle Hamas’ terror network, Israel frequently facilitates reconstruction efforts. Despite this, Hamas ensures that aid is misused or redirected, perpetuating Gaza’s dependence on international assistance while blaming Israel for its failures.

The claim that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is solely the result of Israel’s actions is a narrative designed to absolve Hamas of accountability. The reality is that every destroyed building, failed sewage system, and closed hospital is a testament to Hamas’ corruption and its prioritization of terrorism over governance. Israel’s operations are conducted with the sole aim of neutralizing threats posed by Hamas and other terrorist organizations operating in Gaza, in line with its right to self-defense under international law.

The suffering in Gaza is undeniable, but it is not Israel that is responsible—it is Hamas, a terrorist organization that values its war against Israel more than the lives of the people it claims to represent. By embedding itself within civilian infrastructure, diverting aid, and inciting violence, Hamas ensures that Gaza’s hardships continue, all while blaming Israel to gain international sympathy. This is not a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel; it is a crisis of terrorism enabled and perpetuated by Hamas and its supporters.

DISPLACEMENT

Between October 7, 2023, and September 30, 2024, the suffering of civilians in Gaza was not the result of Israeli policies but of the deliberate and systematic exploitation of the population by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations operating in the Strip. Amnesty International, in alignment with Hamas’ narrative, has spread false and manipulative claims to justify the October 7 massacre and delegitimize Israel’s right to defend itself. Amnesty International’s accusations, riddled with misinformation and unverified data, fail to acknowledge that the root cause of Gaza’s dire situation is Hamas’ prioritization of terrorism over the welfare of the people it claims to represent.

Hamas, backed by Iran, has hijacked Gaza’s humanitarian resources for decades, channeling international aid and infrastructure funds into its terror operations. Critical supplies like fuel, electricity, and building materials are diverted to construct terror tunnels, manufacture rockets, and fortify Hamas’ war machine. Amnesty International’s claim that Gaza’s humanitarian crisis stems from Israeli actions deliberately ignores that it is Hamas’ systematic abuse of resources and infrastructure that has left civilians in a perpetual state of vulnerability. By embedding its terror operations in civilian areas, including hospitals, schools, and homes, Hamas ensures that any military response to its attacks will inevitably affect civilians.

The claim that Israel imposed a “total siege” on Gaza and intentionally obstructed essential services is a gross misrepresentation. Israel, despite being under constant threat from Hamas’ rocket fire and terror activities, has been the sole provider of electricity, water, and humanitarian aid to Gaza, often free of charge. This support has continued even during times of heightened conflict, with Israel facilitating the entry of food, medicine, and other life-saving supplies. However, Hamas frequently seizes these resources for its military purposes, depriving civilians of the aid they so desperately need. Amnesty International’s failure to highlight Hamas’ role in this diversion is a glaring omission that undermines its credibility.

The accusation that Israel limited aid deliveries or denied access to humanitarian workers is another distortion of reality. Israel has repeatedly worked with international agencies to coordinate the entry of supplies into Gaza, even as Hamas’ actions—including attacks on aid convoys and checkpoints—created dangerous conditions for humanitarian operations. The delays and restrictions cited by Amnesty International often stemmed from the need to inspect shipments to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and materials for its terror operations. Amnesty conveniently overlooks the fact that Hamas has a well-documented history of exploiting aid, including fuel and construction materials, for its military infrastructure.

Hamas’ manipulation of the humanitarian situation extends to its use of civilians as human shields and its obstruction of evacuation efforts. Despite Israel’s extensive warnings—via leaflets, social media, phone calls, and radio broadcasts—Hamas actively prevented civilians from fleeing to designated safe zones, trapping them in conflict areas to maximize casualties for propaganda purposes. Amnesty International’s narrative, which blames Israel for the hardships faced by displaced Palestinians, aligns with Hamas’ martyrdom ideology and ignores the terrorist organization’s responsibility for the suffering it orchestrates.

The portrayal of Israel’s efforts as genocidal, as alleged by Amnesty International, is a dangerous and false accusation designed to delegitimize Israel on the world stage. These claims rely on inflated numbers and unverifiable data provided by sources aligned with Hamas, including the Gaza-based Ministry of Health. Amnesty’s selective outrage ignores Hamas’ long-standing strategy of sacrificing its own people to sustain its war against Israel. Every infrastructure collapse and humanitarian shortfall in Gaza is a direct consequence of Hamas’ diversion of resources to its terror operations.

While Amnesty International accuses Israel of blocking humanitarian aid, it is Hamas that has created the dire conditions in Gaza. Its leaders have ensured that hospitals, water facilities, and sanitation systems remain underfunded and neglected, redirecting international aid to fund rockets and tunnels. Israel’s military operations target these terror networks to protect its citizens, and its efforts to provide aid, even during conflict, highlight its commitment to minimizing civilian suffering.

Amnesty International’s claims are not just misinformed—they are actively harmful, as they amplify Hamas’ propaganda and absolve the terrorist organization of accountability. By accusing Israel of “deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about destruction,” Amnesty International adopts the rhetoric of a group responsible for the October 7 massacre and decades of violence. The suffering in Gaza is a tragedy, but it is a tragedy engineered by Hamas, not Israel. Israel’s actions are a necessary response to protect its citizens and dismantle a terror network that prioritizes destruction over the well-being of its own people.

DENIAL AND OBSTRUCTION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES

Amnesty International’s portrayal of Israeli policies as a deliberate obstruction of essential services and a tool to inflict harm on Palestinians in Gaza is not only misleading but echoes the propaganda of Hamas—a terrorist organization operating with the explicit goal of destroying Israel. The narrative conveniently ignores Hamas’ well-documented history of weaponizing Gaza’s infrastructure, humanitarian aid, and civilian population for its genocidal ambitions, backed by Iran.

The accusation that Israel’s measures created “conditions of life calculated to bring about destruction” disregards the reality on the ground. Following Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, massacre, which murdered over 1,200 Israeli civilians, Israel imposed necessary security measures, including controlling the entry of fuel and supplies to prevent their diversion for terror operations. Hamas has consistently diverted fuel, medical supplies, and construction materials meant for civilian use to its military efforts, including rocket production, tunnel digging, and stockpiling arms. This is not a failure of Israeli policy but a calculated abuse by Hamas, which prioritizes its war against Israel over the well-being of its people.

Hamas’ exploitation of aid and infrastructure has directly contributed to the suffering in Gaza. While Amnesty International accuses Israel of denying essential services, it omits that Israel has been the sole provider of electricity, water, and other critical resources to Gaza—often free of charge—even during conflict. For years, Gaza’s humanitarian infrastructure has been systematically undermined by Hamas, which uses hospitals as command centers, schools as weapons depots, and ambulances to transport operatives. Israel’s cautious management of resources entering Gaza reflects the need to prevent these abuses while minimizing harm to civilians.

The claim that Israel imposed a “total siege” on Gaza, cutting off essential supplies and deliberately worsening the humanitarian situation, is grossly inaccurate. Israel coordinated with international agencies to allow aid into Gaza, despite Hamas’ repeated efforts to obstruct distribution and hoard resources for its fighters. The delays and inconsistencies in aid delivery were exacerbated by Hamas’ active interference, as well as the security risks posed by its ongoing terror operations. Humanitarian organizations acknowledged that aid was frequently stolen by armed groups within Gaza, further undermining efforts to assist the civilian population.

The tragic conditions in Gaza—widespread poverty, malnutrition, and collapsing healthcare systems—are not the result of Israel’s actions but of Hamas’ governance. For decades, Hamas has funneled international aid and resources into its terror infrastructure rather than investing in the well-being of Gaza’s population. The destruction of critical infrastructure during the conflict is a direct consequence of Hamas embedding its operations within civilian areas, forcing Israel to target these sites to neutralize threats. Amnesty International’s attempt to frame this as intentional harm by Israel ignores the root cause: Hamas’ deliberate strategy to weaponize its own population’s suffering for propaganda purposes.

The suggestion that Israel failed to provide humanitarian access or repair infrastructure, such as electricity lines, is misleading. Israel repeatedly facilitated aid deliveries and even repaired damage caused by Hamas rocket fire. However, these efforts were undermined by Hamas’ diversion of resources and refusal to prioritize civilian needs. Amnesty International’s reliance on unverified statistics and selective narratives obscures the reality of Hamas’ responsibility for Gaza’s dire conditions.

The accusation that Israel’s policies amount to “deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to destroy” Palestinians is both legally and factually unfounded. Such claims ignore Hamas’ role in creating and perpetuating these conditions through its systematic exploitation of civilians and resources for terror. The suffering in Gaza is not the result of Israeli policies but of Hamas’ relentless commitment to its genocidal ideology, which values the destruction of Israel over the lives of Palestinians.

Amnesty International’s conclusions, which mirror Hamas’ rhetoric, undermine the truth and absolve Hamas of accountability for its war crimes. The organization’s attempt to frame Israel’s lawful defensive measures as acts of genocide distorts international law and shifts focus away from the true source of Gaza’s suffering: the tyranny and terrorism of Hamas. The reality is clear—Hamas’ exploitation of aid, infrastructure, and its own people has caused the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, not Israel’s efforts to defend itself and protect civilians on both sides of the conflict.

DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SITES

The destruction of cultural and religious sites in Gaza, while tragic, cannot be understood without addressing the deliberate militarization of these spaces by Hamas. Amnesty International’s claims that Israel targeted these sites without military necessity ignore the well-documented reality that Hamas has systematically weaponized Gaza’s civilian and public infrastructure, including places of worship, universities, and cultural landmarks. With Hamas’ encouragement and direction, homes, mosques, schools, and hospitals have become part of a massive underground network of tunnels—the largest in the Middle East—built using billions of dollars in stolen international aid.

Hamas has turned religious and cultural sites into staging grounds for its terror operations. Mosques have been used to store weapons, universities have been repurposed to manufacture rockets, and cemeteries have hidden tunnel entrances used for the movement of fighters and arms. These tunnels link homes, public buildings, and places of worship, creating an intricate network beneath Gaza. This deliberate militarization forces Israel into the impossible position of targeting terror infrastructure embedded within civilian and cultural spaces. Every building Hamas has weaponized is a violation of international law, transforming these sites into legitimate military targets.

Amnesty International’s claim that “controlled demolitions” of sites like Al-Azhar University and Al-Dhilal Mosque were unnecessary overlooks the overwhelming evidence of their use by Hamas for military purposes. The Israeli military’s actions were not about targeting Palestinian heritage but about dismantling terror infrastructure that posed an immediate threat to Israeli civilians. The suggestion that such destruction was celebratory, based on a single video, is a distortion of reality that undermines the gravity of Hamas’ tactics.

The destruction of Gaza’s cultural and religious sites is a direct consequence of Hamas’ strategy of using these spaces to shield its operatives. Every mosque or university repurposed as a weapons depot or tunnel hub was a deliberate choice by Hamas to exploit international outrage while endangering the very fabric of Palestinian society. The billions of dollars of international aid intended to improve Gaza’s infrastructure and quality of life have instead been diverted by Hamas and its affiliates, including UNRWA, to build this vast network of terror.

Hamas has weaponized every facet of civilian life in Gaza, turning the Strip into a fortress of terror at the expense of its people. The destruction of cultural sites is not evidence of Israeli malice but of the lengths Hamas will go to achieve its genocidal objectives. This reality underscores the necessity of Israel’s actions in targeting terror infrastructure, even when it is embedded in sites of cultural and religious significance. The suffering in Gaza is not a reflection of Israel’s intent but of Hamas’ ruthless exploitation of its own population for its war against Israel.

DEHUMANIZATION OF PALESTINIANS AND STATEMENTS ON DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIANS

The accusations of dehumanization and incitement against Israeli officials by Amnesty International are not only baseless but a deliberate attempt to deflect from the real perpetrators of genocidal intent: Hamas and the broader Palestinian terrorist factions operating in Gaza and beyond. The October 7, 2023, massacre—an unprovoked invasion by Hamas into Israel—was an explicit and unapologetic attempt at genocide. Thousands of Israelis were slaughtered in their homes, raped, tortured, and abducted in a coordinated campaign of terror, with videos of these atrocities gleefully shared by Palestinian operatives to incite further violence and spread fear.

The narrative of Palestinians as victims collapses under the weight of their own actions. Far from being passive bystanders, the majority of Palestinians in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria actively support the stated goal of Hamas: the complete destruction of the State of Israel “from the river to the sea.” This is not a hidden agenda; it is openly celebrated in Palestinian media, schools, and public discourse. The October 7 massacre, far from being condemned, was widely supported and justified as part of this larger goal, with Palestinians distributing sweets in celebration and amplifying the atrocities on social media as a grotesque badge of honor.

The idea that Israel’s defensive measures are genocidal ignores the reality of Hamas’ tactics and the complicity of the Palestinian population in these acts of terror. Hamas has consistently used its own civilians as human shields, embedding its operatives and weapons in homes, schools, hospitals, and mosques. When these sites are targeted as part of Israel’s legitimate military operations, Hamas exploits the resulting casualties to fuel its propaganda and garner international sympathy. This calculated strategy relies on the willingness of its supporters, both in Gaza and beyond, to sacrifice their own children for the cause of destroying Israel.

The rhetoric of incitement that Amnesty International attributes to Israeli officials is dwarfed by the explicit and systemic incitement to genocide present in Palestinian society. Hamas’ charter openly calls for the annihilation of Israel and Jews worldwide, a sentiment echoed in Palestinian school curriculums, media, and political speeches. The glorification of martyrdom and the demonization of Israelis are integral to Palestinian identity as fostered by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The October 7 massacre was not an aberration but a culmination of decades of indoctrination and hatred.

Amnesty International’s analysis of Israeli statements lacks any context regarding the nature of the conflict. The videos and statements they cite are reactions to the unimaginable atrocities committed by Hamas and the ongoing existential threat to Israel posed by Palestinian terrorism. Unlike Hamas, which explicitly calls for genocide, Israeli rhetoric arises from the necessity of self-defense against an enemy that seeks its total destruction. Equating Israel’s legitimate defensive measures with genocidal intent is not only intellectually dishonest but a dangerous inversion of the truth.

The simple fact is this: Palestinians as a collective, through their actions, rhetoric, and widespread support for terrorism, have demonstrated their complicity in the October 7 massacre and their commitment to the destruction of Israel. Their war against Israel is not limited to Hamas operatives—it is a societal effort rooted in hatred and the glorification of violence. The suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, while tragic, is a direct result of their leadership’s genocidal ambitions and their complicity in enabling and celebrating acts of terror.

Israel’s measures are not acts of genocide but necessary steps to protect its citizens from an enemy that has openly declared its intention to destroy the Jewish state. Amnesty International’s attempt to frame the defenders of life and democracy as perpetrators of genocide is not only false but a dangerous contribution to the propaganda of those who would see Israel wiped off the map.

INTENT TO DESTROY PALESTINIANS

Amnesty International’s claim that Israel’s actions reflect genocidal intent is a distortion of reality that conveniently ignores the root causes of the conflict: Hamas’ unrelenting campaign of terror and the Palestinian leadership’s prioritization of jihad over the welfare of its own people. The massacre of October 7, 2023, in which Hamas slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis in cold blood, was not an isolated event but a culmination of the group’s genocidal ideology, explicitly stated in its charter and reinforced by decades of terror. Amnesty International’s attempt to redirect blame onto Israel disregards the overt genocidal intent of Hamas and its allies, who proudly declared their aim to annihilate Israel and celebrated their atrocities with mass public support from Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas’ stated objective, “from the river to the sea,” is not a mere slogan; it is a declaration of intent to obliterate the State of Israel. This goal is not hidden—it is taught in schools, celebrated in public demonstrations, and echoed in Palestinian media. The infrastructure of terror built by Hamas in Gaza, including the largest network of terror tunnels in the Middle East, is a testament to this singular focus. Funded by billions of dollars stolen from international aid, this network links homes, schools, mosques, and hospitals, turning civilian infrastructure into weapons of war. Every home in Gaza, under Hamas’ control, serves as a potential weapons cache or a launch site for rockets aimed at Israeli civilians. By embedding itself so deeply within the civilian fabric of Gaza, Hamas ensures that any defensive measures taken by Israel are portrayed as attacks on civilians—propaganda readily adopted by organizations like Amnesty International.

The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, while tragic, is the inevitable result of Hamas’ tactics. The group has weaponized its own population, using them as human shields and embedding military assets in densely populated areas. Amnesty International’s narrative conveniently omits these realities, focusing instead on allegations against Israel while ignoring the operational necessity of targeting sites that Hamas has militarized. The idea that Israel is committing genocide ignores the lengths to which it goes to minimize civilian casualties, including issuing evacuation orders, using precision strikes, and allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid, even as Hamas actively obstructs these efforts.

Amnesty International’s suggestion that Israel’s measures demonstrate a disregard for Palestinian life is not only false but also hypocritical, given Hamas’ proven record of sacrificing its own people for its war against Israel. Hamas’ operatives have consistently forced civilians to remain in harm’s way, turning evacuation routes into death traps and using schools, hospitals, and mosques as shields for their fighters. Amnesty’s refusal to acknowledge this systematic exploitation of civilians underscores its alignment with Hamas’ propaganda.

The organization’s argument that Israel’s actions are “instrumental genocide”—suggesting that Palestinians are being destroyed as a means to eradicate Hamas—is both absurd and dangerous. It implies that Israel should simply allow Hamas to continue its terror campaign unchecked, even at the cost of Israeli lives. This twisted logic ignores the fact that Hamas deliberately co-locates its operatives among civilians precisely to elicit this kind of international outrage when Israel defends itself.

Amnesty International’s report is riddled with inconsistencies and double standards. While it accuses Israel of blocking aid, it fails to address Hamas’ systematic diversion of humanitarian supplies for military use. Tunnels are built with stolen construction materials, rockets are crafted from repurposed humanitarian aid, and food supplies are hoarded by Hamas fighters while ordinary Palestinians starve. Amnesty’s narrative absolves Hamas of its crimes, placing the blame squarely on Israel for the suffering caused by the very leaders Palestinians support.

The claim that Israel is committing genocide is not only factually incorrect but also an insult to the real victims of genocide throughout history. The hardships in Gaza, while devastating, are the result of Hamas’ governance, which has prioritized the destruction of Israel over the well-being of Palestinians for decades. By indoctrinating children with hatred, glorifying martyrdom, and diverting resources to its war machine, Hamas has ensured that the people of Gaza remain trapped in a cycle of poverty, violence, and despair.

Amnesty International’s alignment with Hamas’ narrative undermines its credibility as a human rights organization. Instead of holding Hamas accountable for its role in perpetuating the suffering of Palestinians, Amnesty amplifies propaganda designed to delegitimize Israel’s right to self-defense. The international community must reject this distorted framing and recognize the true source of Gaza’s suffering: Hamas and the broader Palestinian leadership that has chosen jihad over peace, terror over development, and destruction over coexistence.

Israel’s actions are not motivated by genocidal intent but by the necessity of defending its citizens from an enemy that has openly declared its desire to annihilate them. The Palestinian leadership’s commitment to eradicating Israel has brought this destruction upon Gaza, turning what could have been a thriving society into a fortress of terror. Amnesty International’s complicity in spreading this narrative not only undermines the truth but also enables the very forces that seek to perpetuate conflict and suffering.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Amnesty International’s conclusion in this report is nothing short of a disgraceful endorsement of the narrative espoused by Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for the massacre of over 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023. Amnesty’s baseless allegations of “genocidal intent” by Israel align directly with the rhetoric and goals of Hamas, whose charter explicitly calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination of Jews. By parroting this narrative, Amnesty International has positioned itself as an advocate for terror rather than an impartial defender of human rights.

This report is built on a foundation of distortions, omissions, and outright falsehoods. Amnesty International brazenly accuses Israel of genocide while ignoring the undeniable facts: Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, embeds its military infrastructure in schools, hospitals, and mosques, and has diverted billions of dollars in international aid to construct the largest terror tunnel network in the Middle East. These tunnels, which run beneath homes and public infrastructure, are a testament to Hamas’ prioritization of terrorism over the welfare of its own people. Amnesty’s refusal to address these critical facts exposes its true agenda—demonizing Israel while providing cover for Palestinian terror organizations.

What is perhaps most egregious is Amnesty International’s complete disregard for the Israeli hostages—men, women, and children—who remain in Hamas’ captivity in Gaza. These innocent civilians, abducted during the October 7 massacre, are subjected to unimaginable suffering and serve as living proof of Hamas’ barbarity. While Amnesty International is quick to accuse Israel of committing war crimes, it fails to acknowledge Hamas’ blatant violations of international law, including the illegal detention, torture, and exploitation of hostages. Amnesty’s silence on this critical issue is not an oversight—it is a deliberate choice to ignore the atrocities committed against Israelis, further revealing its bias and agenda.

Amnesty International’s reliance on the UN, ICJ, and ICC as trustworthy sources is particularly outrageous. The UN, through its agency UNRWA, has long been complicit in enabling Palestinian terrorism. UNRWA workers have been documented aiding and abetting Hamas, with some even participating in the October 7 massacre. The ICJ and ICC, manipulated by anti-Israel bias, have become tools for perpetuating baseless accusations against the Jewish state while ignoring Hamas’ blatant war crimes and crimes against humanity. Amnesty’s unquestioning endorsement of these institutions is not a call for justice but a cynical weaponization of international bodies to advance its anti-Israel agenda.

Every claim made in this conclusion deserves to be debunked. The accusation that Israel deliberately inflicted “conditions of life calculated to destroy” Palestinians in Gaza ignores the reality that Hamas itself has caused these conditions. Hamas has stolen international aid meant for its people, used civilian infrastructure as shields, and obstructed evacuation routes to ensure maximum casualties. Amnesty International’s call for the “unhindered passage of goods” into Gaza omits the fact that Hamas routinely diverts these resources to build rockets and tunnels rather than addressing the needs of its population. Amnesty’s recommendation to allow all displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza is equally detached from reality—it disregards the ongoing threat posed by Hamas’ entrenched terror infrastructure in these areas.

The repeated references to alleged “apartheid” and “occupation” further expose Amnesty’s anti-Israel bias. Gaza is not occupied—Israel fully withdrew in 2005, only to see the territory transformed into a launchpad for terror under Hamas’ rule. The blockade on Gaza is not a tool of oppression but a necessary security measure to prevent Hamas from importing weapons to continue its genocidal campaign against Israel. Amnesty International’s willful ignorance of these facts demonstrates its alignment with Hamas’ propaganda rather than an objective pursuit of truth.

Finally, Amnesty’s recommendation for a ceasefire and arms embargo on Israel is a dangerous call to disarm the only democracy in the Middle East against an enemy committed to its destruction. Such measures would embolden Hamas and other terror groups, ensuring more bloodshed and suffering for Israelis and Palestinians alike. The real solution lies in dismantling Hamas and holding its leaders accountable for their war crimes—not in vilifying Israel for defending itself against existential threats.

Amnesty International’s conclusion is not a call for justice but a grotesque inversion of reality. By ignoring Hamas’ atrocities, enabling its propaganda, and demonizing Israel, Amnesty has abandoned its mission of defending human rights and instead become a mouthpiece for terror. Its deliberate silence on the plight of Israeli hostages and its refusal to hold Hamas accountable for its war crimes underscore its moral bankruptcy. This report should be seen for what it is: a blatant attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state, whitewash Palestinian terrorism, and empower those who seek to perpetuate violence and destruction in the region.