WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) said Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide. Israel has already received heavy criticism over their actions in Gaza but will a resolution from the IAGS be enough to change policy and actions with Israel and Gaza? A political scientist weighs in.
The IAGS, which has hundreds of members including Holocaust experts, said “since the horrific Hamas led attack on October 7, 2023, which itself constitutes international crimes, the government of Israel has engaged in systematic and widespread crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.”
The IAGS said Israel has forcibly displaced nearly all 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza strip, destroyed schools, universities, libraries, museums and archives which give the existence of Palestinian collective well-being and identity. They add the actions of the Israeli government included torture, detention, sexual and reproductive violence and Israel deliberately depraves people in Gaza of food, water, medicine and electricity. The IAGS said “the consequences of these crimes have included destroying entire families and multiple generations of Palestinians.”
We asked Dr. Todd Belt, a professor and director of political management at George Washington University, how much of an impact this resolution will have:
“On the domestic side in the United States, it’s going to have absolutely zero impact and the reason for that is the issue has been in the news for quite some time and this will solidify people’s views on either side,” said Dr. Belt. “It’s a little different internationally where people are attuned to these types of things and I think it might have some sort of resonance in the United Nations. Of course, when you have the United States with its big veto power in the United Nations and the United States being a fervent backer of Israel, I don’t see anything being able to come through with this.”
This resolution adds fuel to the fire for Israel’s actions in Gaza which has received a lot of scrutiny. The resolution calls for Israel to cease all acts that constitute genocide, war crimes and crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza.
“There’s nothing this resolution does that can force the hand of any international players,” said Dr. Belt.
There are reports that state Israel called the resolution “an embarrassment to the legal profession”. The United States has been one of Israel’s strongest supporters and Dr. Belt believes this resolution is unlikely to change the needle on Congress’ position on the war.
