Israel is Committing Genocide

1. International Laws and Regulations

Israel, through the actions of Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Katz, Yoav Gallant, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is violating multiple international laws and regulations by blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza.
These violations include:

• Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), Article 33: Prohibits collective punishment, yet the siege and aid blockade collectively punish Gaza’s civilian population, as confirmed by Gallant’s October 9, 2023, "complete siege" order and Smotrich’s April 8, 2025, vow to block all aid, including wheat.
• International Humanitarian Law (IHL): Under Additional Protocol I (1977), Article 54, starving civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited. The IPC’s June 2024 famine warning and Katz’s April 16, 2025, admission of using aid denial as a "pressure tool" against the population breach this norm.
• UN Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018): Condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war and calls for unimpeded humanitarian access. Israel’s sustained blockade, intensified over seven weeks by April 2025, flagrantly violates this resolution.
• Rome Statute (1998), Article 8(2)(b)(xxv): War crimes include starving civilians by depriving them of objects indispensable to survival. The IDF’s enforcement of the siege, blocking food and medical supplies, directly contravenes this provision.

These actions collectively breach obligations to protect civilian lives during armed conflict, exposing Israel, its ministers, and the IDF to legal accountability.

2. Actus Reus and Mens Rea for Genocide

The statements and actions of these ministers, combined with the IDF’s conduct, establish both actus reus and mens rea for genocide under Article II of the UN Genocide Convention (1948) and Article 6 of the Rome Statute:

• Actus Reus: The prohibited act under Article II(c)—"deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part"—is evident. The "complete siege" (Gallant, 2023), total aid blockage (Smotrich, 2025), and policy enforcement (Katz, 2025) have led to a famine, with the IPC reporting 495,000 Gazans in catastrophic food insecurity by June 2024, a crisis likely exacerbated by April 2025. The IDF’s occupation and aid denial, as noted by Katz, directly inflict these conditions on Palestinians as a national group.
• Mens Rea: Intent to destroy, in whole or in part, is demonstrated by the ministers’ rhetoric and policy. Gallant’s dehumanizing "human animals" statement (2023), Smotrich’s justification of starving two million Gazans as "moral" (August 5, 2024), and Katz’s framing of aid denial as a deliberate pressure tactic (2025) reveal a calculated intent to target the Palestinian population, not just Hamas. This consistency across three senior officials over 18 months suggests a state-orchestrated genocidal policy.

This dual fulfillment of actus reus and mens rea provides a robust legal basis for charging Israel and these officials with genocide.

3. Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Demands Action

The Responsibility to Protect (R2P), enshrined in the UN Charter (2005 World Summit Outcome, paragraphs 138-139), IHL, and international law, obligates the UN and individual states to act when a population faces genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. The R2P framework mandates:

• Prevention and Response: Israel’s blockade and resulting famine constitute a clear R2P trigger. The UN and states must employ sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and, if necessary, military action to protect Gaza’s civilians, as the government has manifestly failed to do so.
• Legal Basis: IHL and the UN Charter (Article 39) authorize collective action to maintain international peace and security when atrocities occur.
  The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with hospitals closing and starvation rampant, demands immediate intervention to prevent further loss of life.

Failure to act violates the global commitment to R2P, placing the onus on the international community to safeguard Palestinian civilians.

4. ICJ Provisional Measures and UNSC/UNGA Duty

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures on January 26, 2024, and subsequent orders in 2024, mandating Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza, including ensuring humanitarian aid access. Israel’s non-compliance, evidenced by the ministers’ statements and the IDF’s continued blockade, constitutes a direct violation. Under the UN Charter (Article 94(2)), the UN Security Council (UNSC) is duty-bound to enforce ICJ rulings.
However, if the U.S. veto paralyzes the UNSC, Resolution 377A(V) ("Uniting for Peace") transfers this responsibility to the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
This legal framework compels action to compel Israel’s adherence to international law.

5. UNGA’s Urgent Role Under ES-10

The UNGA must urgently reconvene under Emergency Special Session 10 (ES-10), where Resolution 377 is already in place, to recommend measures to protect Gaza’s civilians and prevent a holocaust. The escalating famine, with NGOs declaring a manmade catastrophe, mirrors historical atrocities, necessitating decisive action. The UNGA should impose sanctions on Israel, sever diplomatic ties with offending officials, and authorize a coalition of willing states to use military force if needed to ensure aid delivery and halt the genocide, fulfilling its mandate to maintain peace and protect human rights.

6. ICC Arrest Warrants for Smotrich and Katz

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, for war crimes, including "starvation as a method of warfare". Given the identical genocidal intent and acts by Smotrich and Katz—blocking aid with intent to destroy Palestinians—the ICC must urgently issue arrest warrants for them. Their public statements and the resulting famine provide sufficient evidence under Article 6 of the Rome Statute, ensuring accountability alongside their co-conspirators.

Conclusion

The international community cannot remain idle. Israel’s violations, the ministers’ genocidal intent, and the IDF’s actions demand UNSC enforcement of ICJ measures, UNGA action under ES-10, and ICC prosecution of Smotrich and Katz to prevent a preventable catastrophe.