The International Association of Genocide Scholars, a body of more than 500 experts worldwide, has formally declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide under international law. In a resolution backed by an overwhelming majority, the association cited mass civilian killings, starvation used as a weapon, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and the forced displacement of the population. These acts, it stressed, also amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This rare classification, only the tenth in the organisation’s history, comes as the International Court of Justice examines South Africa’s case against Israel, which accuses it of incitement to genocide and obstructing humanitarian relief. The scholars’ decision amplifies a growing international consensus that Gaza is enduring one of the gravest crimes of our time.

More than two years of relentless bombardment, famine, and siege have left tens of thousands dead, many of them children, while survivors face the collapse of health, food, and education systems. The statement is expected to intensify international pressure, underscoring urgent demands for accountability, the lifting of the blockade, and immediate protection for civilians trapped under genocide.