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**International Law Experts Emphasize Global Responsibility to Prevent Potential Genocide in Gaza**

**Washington D.C.** – As the conflict in Gaza enters its second year, international law experts are raising alarm, arguing that the ongoing actions by Israel against Palestinians meet the definition of genocide under international law. This designation, they emphasize, carries significant legal and political ramifications, triggering a global responsibility to act.

Experts like former UN official Craig Mokhaiber assert that all nations are obligated under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention to prevent and punish acts of genocide. This includes utilizing all available means to halt the violence and hold perpetrators accountable. The convention, ratified by 153 countries including the US, major Western powers, and Israel itself, defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

“Genocide is the most serious of international crimes, and because of that, the Genocide Convention requires all states parties to prevent and punish it, so the recognition that it is genocide automatically triggers obligations on state parties,” said Susan Akram, director of Boston University’s International Human Rights Clinic.

Evidence cited includes the scale of destruction in Gaza, with over 67,000 deaths and near-total displacement of the population, combined with a severe blockade on humanitarian aid leading to famine. A UN commission of inquiry report pointed to statements by Israeli officials advocating collective punishment and mass violence against Palestinians as evidence of genocidal intent.

Several organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars, have accused Israel of genocidal acts. The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, named after the man who coined the term “genocide,” has also made similar claims.

While Israel vehemently denies the accusations, citing self-defense against Hamas, it faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) brought by South Africa. The ICJ has already issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. However, experts argue that these orders have not been fully followed.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials for alleged war crimes, but has not pursued genocide charges. The path to effective action is complicated by the potential for a US veto in the UN Security Council, leaving individual states to shoulder much of the responsibility for enforcing genocide prevention.

While legal processes are underway, some experts stress the importance of political pressure. Ernesto Verdeja, a political science professor, called for sustained political pressure, including from political leaders, states and civil society, to stop the violence against Gazan civilians. He warns that focusing on legal technicalities can distract from the urgency of preventing further atrocities.

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