Israel and Palestine Accuse Each Other of Genocide in Fiery UN Exchange: Urgent Call for Peace in Gaza

 Representatives from Israel and Palestine engaged in a heated exchange at the United Nations, accusing each other of genocide in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The accusations came during a meeting at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, held ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israeli representative Yeela Cytrin stated that Hamas' attacks on October 7 were motivated by a genocidal ideology, while Palestinian representative Dima Asfour argued that Israel's bombing campaign and ground offensive constituted a textbook case of genocide.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated after the attacks on October 7, with Israel vowing to crush Hamas in retaliation. Israeli authorities report that around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attacks, and 240 hostages were taken. In response, Israel launched heavy bombardments and a ground offensive, resulting in the deaths of over 15,500 people in Gaza, the majority of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted on December 9, 1948, as the first human rights treaty in the history of the UN.

It was created in the aftermath of World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust, emphasizing humanity's obligation to prevent and punish all genocidal acts. However, 75 years later, the Jewish people are still facing attacks and anti-Semitism. Cytrin highlighted the encouragement of the eradication of the Jewish people by Hamas and its supporters on social media. She questioned whether humanity had truly learned anything in the past 75 years. Iran's representative accused Israel of carrying out a horrifying genocide against Palestinians, while other Muslim countries accused Israeli officials of incitement to genocide.

Asfour stressed the importance of early warning to genocide and called on the international community to take action. She criticized the international system for its failure to mobilize to prevent genocide and denounced the campaign of digital repression aimed at suppressing Palestinian voices. The debate surrounding the use of the term genocide in the Israel-Hamas conflict is not new. Scholars have long debated whether Israel has committed genocide in Palestinian territories. The different interpretations of genocide, ranging from a legal definition to a broader view that encompasses various dynamics, allow people to characterize the violence in their own ways. However, amidst the rhetoric, it is crucial not to lose sight of the urgent need for peace in the region.