For the first time, two prominent Israeli human rights
organisations, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI), have
publicly accused their own government of committing genocide against
Palestinians in Gaza. Their reports and statements, published on Monday, intensify
international scrutiny and confront a longstanding social and legal taboo
within Israel itself.
Inverted Pyramid: The Most Crucial News First
In a significant escalation of criticism against the Israeli government, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel stated on 28 July 2025 that the ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza"constitute genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip".
This marks the first such
accusation from major Jewish-led organisations within Israel, a move which has
provoked both domestic shock and fuelled the already fierce international
debate about Israel’s conduct since the outbreak of war following the 7 October
2023 Hamas attacks.
What Did the Israeli Groups Actually Say?
As reported by Patrick Kingsley of The New York Times, the
organisations issued detailed reports criticising Israel on both legal and
moral grounds. B’Tselem cited "the deaths of tens of thousands of
individuals in Gaza, the destruction of vast portions of urban infrastructure,
forced displacements, and a blockade of essential resources" as evidence
of genocide, stating:
"The Israeli military campaign represents a coordinated effort to deliberately eliminate Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip".
At a press conference in East Jerusalem, Orly Noy, chair of
B'Tselem's executive board, declared:
"This crime must be stopped immediately. The responsibility lies first and foremost with Israel, but also with the international community, which must use every means to stop the crimes that are still taking place just 70kilometres (43.5miles) from here".
Yuli Novak, executive director of B'Tselem, added:
"For the past 22months, we have witnessed unprecedented destruction of civilians, deliberate starvation, and mass forced displacement. Gaza's residents are displaced, bombed, and starved, stripped entirely of their humanity and rights".
According to Jeremy Diamond at CNN, B’Tselem’s 79-page
report stated:
"The conditions in Gaza cannot be rationalised or explained as efforts to dismantle the Hamas regime or its military strength."
The PHRI report, meanwhile, focused on the
"methodical dismantling of essential health and life-sustaining systems,"
specifically
highlighting attacks and blockades affecting water, food, and health
care—actions the group described as fulfilling at least three acts of genocide
as defined by international law.
Why Is This Statement So Significant Within Israel?
As Laurie Kellman of AP News observed, even Israel’s most
strident critics in civil society have generally avoided using the term
"genocide," given the country’s history in the shadow of the
Holocaust. The new allegations represent a major break with this societal
taboo. Guy Shalev, director of Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, said:
"Perhaps the involvement of human rights organisations based in Israel, arriving at this conclusion, will encourage people to recognise the reality," highlighting the hope that Israelis may be forced to reckon with the substance of these claims rather than dismissing them as anti-Semitic slurs.
Both B'Tselem and PHRI are viewed as politically
marginalised within Israel; nevertheless, their interventions are globally
influential and have been cited extensively by international bodies.
How Has the Israeli Government Responded?
As reported by The Times of Israel, the office of PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu offered no immediate official comment on the
groups’ latest claims, but has previously condemned allegations of genocide as
being "rooted in anti-Semitism" and insisted that its actions target
only Hamas, which it accuses of using civilians as human shields. During
International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings in January, Tal
Becker—representing Israel’s legal defence—stated:
"Israel’s military operations are directed at Hamas, rather than a broad attack on the Palestinian population".
The government continues to maintain that it is fighting
"an existential struggle," acts "in accordance with
international law," and takes steps to mitigate civilian harm.
What Evidence Supports the Claim of Genocide?
Both reports reference not only concrete actions—bombings, destruction, and forced displacement—but also the statements of key Israeli officials and military commanders regarding the objective to eradicate Palestinian society in Gaza. The PHRI report identified repeated calls for
"the total destruction, permanent displacement, and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza"
as evidence of intent behind acts which
international conventions would define as genocidal.
B’Tselem further alleges that, post-7 October, Israeli
policy shifted "from repression and control to destruction and
annihilation" of Palestinians in Gaza.
How Do These Claims Compare with International Judgments?
As noted by CNN, B'Tselem and PHRI's conclusions mirror
those previously reached by major international NGOs such as Human Rights Watch
and Amnesty International. These organisations have, since November 2023,
described Israeli actions in Gaza as "consistent with the characteristics
of genocide," referencing mass civilian casualties and the use of
starvation as a weapon.
The International Court of Justice is currently hearing a case brought by South
Africa and joined by Ireland, also alleging Israeli genocide; no final decision
has been rendered.
How Have Global and Domestic Audiences Reacted?
The PHRI and B'Tselem reports arrive amid severe
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, widely condemned abroad. As CNN references,
horrendous images of child malnutrition have provoked statements from the
United Kingdom, France, and Germany decrying the suffering as "man-made
and avoidable". Simultaneously, Israeli society faces internal
turmoil: escalating protests demand an end to fighting and the release of
hostages, while government coalition members warn of a collapse if the war
halts. Within Israel, the majority remains hesitant—or outright opposed—to such
characterisations of government policy, with concerns about national security
and allegations of anti-Semitism frequently shaping public debate.
What Is the Broader Context of These Accusations?
International legal experts have outlined that
"genocide" is defined by the United Nations as "
acts committed
with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or
religious group." The topic remains intensely fraught, especially in a
country founded as a refuge from the Holocaust. Both Israeli rights groups
remain barred from entering Gaza during the current conflict; their findings
are based on court documents, testimony, and expert consultation.
What Happens Next?
Correspondents across The New York Times, The Times of
Israel, CNN, AP, and other media outlets agree that the statements from
B’Tselem and PHRI mark an unprecedented moment of introspection and
self-criticism in Israeli civil society. Their intervention could
influence the ICJ’s deliberations and sharpen international debates about the
conduct of states in war.
At present, the Israeli government stands firm in its denial
and warns of a politicised campaign to delegitimise the state. Meanwhile,
rights groups and legal bodies worldwide continue to scrutinise the
catastrophic humanitarian toll in Gaza. The future trajectory—legal, political,
and humanitarian—remains highly volatile.