War in Gaza: Amnesty International pleads genocide

The thick document, which covers nearly 300 pages, promises to make noise. The NGO Amnesty International published this Thursday, December 5, a report called “We have the impression of being subhuman” with the following subtitle: “the genocide of Palestinians committed by Israel in Gaza”. The general secretary of the NGO, Agnès Callamard, assures that it is a “fair and in-depth analysis”, and in no way a work that would respond to any logic “political or preferential”. The report, which covers a period of nine months, between October 7, 2023 and early July 2024, is based on interviews with 212 witnesses, as well as numerous documents: satellite images, photos, videos, media content, etc.

Concern for legal demonstration

For the organization, the nature of the military operations carried out in Gaza by the Israeli army corresponds to genocide as defined by international law. The 1948 Genocide Convention, ratified in 1950 by Israel, describes an act committed “with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such”. It lists the series of attacks which can constitute it: murder of a member of the group, attack on the physical or mental integrity of the latter, subjecting it to conditions of existence leading to its total or partial destruction, interference with births, forced transfer of children to another group. “It is clear that we are in the presence of at least 3 of these 5 acts”defends Agnès Callamard. Amnesty makes them the chapter headings of its report: homicides and serious injuries; living conditions intended to lead to the destruction of the Palestinians; specific intention of genocide.

Concerning the human toll of the war, the rapporteurs insist on the fact that among the 40,717 deaths during the period studied, 60% were children, women or elderly people, which for Amnesty is similar to “indiscriminate attacks”. The NGO worked hard to isolate airstrikes that did not appear to meet war objectives. Amnesty International notably carried out an in-depth study of 15 sites struck between October 2023 and April 2024, sometimes at night, on targets that were “of a civil character”. The analysis of the weapon fragments highlighted the use of “powerful bombs”. Eleven of these attacks involved buildings south of the Wadi Gaza River, places “even more overcrowded than usual, due to the influx of displaced people”.

The NGO also summarizes the numerous deprivations to which the Palestinians have been subjected: with 90% of Gaza’s 2.2 million inhabitants displaced, the population is “lacking essential infrastructure”the Israeli authorities having “deliberately obstructed or prohibited the importation and delivery of vital products and humanitarian aid into the territory”. Amnesty made Mohamed, 42, its flagship testimony to highlight the dehumanizing aspect of these living conditions. “Here in Deir al Balah, it feels like the end of the world. There is no place to pitch a tent, we have to pitch it near the coast… We have to protect our children from insects, from the heat, and there is no clean water, no toilets , and meanwhile, the incessant bombing continues. We feel like we’re subhuman here. »

An “annihilation” announced

On genocidal intent, Amnesty International cites, among others, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, shortly before the launch of the offensive on Rafah, to the south of the enclave, on the border with Egypt. “No half measures. Rafah, Deir al Balah, Nuseirat: total annihilation. You will blot out the memory (of the people) of Amalek from under heaven”he declared during a public event on April 29, 2024. Speeches like this, Amnesty International analyzed 102 made by Israeli government officials, high-ranking military officers, or members of the Knesset between October 7, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Among these remarks which “dehumanize Palestinians, or call for or justify acts of genocide or other crimes under international law against them,” the NGO identified 22 statements made by members of the war cabinets, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, or the now former Minister of Defense Gallant.

In its argument, the NGO document cites 104 times the notion of acts “repeated” or “cumulative”to convince of the genocidal intention like the “only reasonable conclusion”. Amnesty International, which seems to have ruled on the nature of the acts committed in Gaza, however denies wanting to set itself up as a tribunal. “We do not claim to replace international justice. The ICJ (International Court of Justice) like the ICC (International Criminal Court) have their role to play, this does not mean that NGOs do not also have their part to take”underlines Agnès Callamard.