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Posted on 05/12/2026 2:47:38 AM PDT by Milagros
Israel's Conduct in Gaza Does Not Resemble Genocide. David Bernstein | 5.11.2026.
Frankly, I find the charge of genocide against Israel to be obviously absurd, one of those claims that true believers insist upon precisely because the claim is so implausible that promoting it is valuable to show you are a true believer. Hence the pressure by anti-Israel activists for everyone who purports to be "pro-Palestinian" to accept the genocide claim, or be excluded from the club.
Nevertheless, because the genocide lie is so common in public discourse over Gaza, I thought it would be useful to write a piece debunking the claim, though I wasn't sure where I would place it. Serendipitously, Skeptic Magazine solicited an article for me, giving me the opportunity to present my case in about four thousand words, with footnotes.
I also wrote a much shorter version for my Times of Israel blog. And an even shorter synopsis follows below:
The accusation that Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza has become commonplace in protests, university activism, social media campaigns, and international legal rhetoric. But one striking feature of the debate is how little attention is paid to a basic question: what would genocidal behavior actually look like, and does Israel's conduct resemble it?
The answer is plainly no.
Genocide is not simply a war that causes extensive civilian casualties. It is the deliberate attempt to destroy a people as such. Historically recognized genocides share recognizable characteristics: civilians are targeted precisely because of their identity, and the perpetrators seek maximum civilian death rather than military victory.
Israel's conduct in Gaza looks very different.
To begin with, Israel has repeatedly taken steps that are fundamentally inconsistent with exterminatory intent. Before major operations, the Israeli military has issued evacuation warnings through phone calls, text messages, leaflets, and media announcements. It has established humanitarian corridors and periodically paused military activity to facilitate civilian movement and aid delivery. It has employed "roof-knocking" procedures designed to warn civilians before airstrikes. Armies attempting genocide do not warn civilian populations to leave targeted areas in advance.
The broader strategic picture points in the same direction. Israel possesses overwhelming military superiority over Hamas. If Israel's objective were truly the destruction of Palestinians as a people, the death toll could have been vastly higher within a very short time. Instead, Israel has fought a grinding urban campaign focused on Hamas infrastructure, tunnel systems, command centers, rocket launch sites, and militant leadership. The fact that civilian casualties have nevertheless been severe reflects the reality of urban warfare against an armed group deeply embedded in civilian areas, not a campaign aimed at exterminating Palestinians as such.
Indeed, Hamas's military strategy depends heavily on operating within densely populated civilian zones. Weapons are stored in residential neighborhoods, fighters operate from civilian buildings, and command infrastructure has been constructed beneath urban areas. None of this relieves Israel of its obligations under international humanitarian law. But it does provide an obvious military explanation for large-scale civilian casualties,
The genocide accusation also struggles to explain conduct that makes little sense if extermination were the goal. Israel has facilitated substantial humanitarian aid into Gaza despite the obvious military disadvantage that aid creates by potentially benefiting Hamas. Israeli officials have repeatedly coordinated aid deliveries, fuel transfers, field hospitals, and medical evacuations under enormous international pressure and domestic controversy. Again, critics may argue these efforts are inadequate. But inadequate humanitarian precautions are not the same thing as an intent to destroy an entire population.
One must also note the political context. Accusations that Israel is genocidal long predate the current war. Versions of the claim were promoted in Soviet anti-Zionist propaganda after the Six-Day War and later reemerged at the 2001 Durban conference, where activists portrayed Zionism itself as inherently racist and genocidal. In many cases, the conclusion preceded the evidence.
The danger of stretching the term genocide beyond recognition is substantial. If every brutal urban war involving high civilian casualties becomes genocide, then the concept loses the distinctive moral and legal meaning that made it powerful in the first place.
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Wasn’t this like settled science at least a year ago?
David Bernstein, the author of this opinion piece, focuses much of his attention on civilian casualties without once mentioning the number of civilians killed.
It was. Yet propagandists still try to push it
THE ONLY GEENOCIDES IN THE AREA ARE MUSLIM
After what I saw the Palanimals did on 9/11’ dancing in the streets and handing out candy, I don’t care how many “civilians” are killed.
At least he could have revealed the fact that the Gaza population has increased since 10/8/23.
The same people who claim Israel is committing genocide on “Palestinians” are largely the same people who support White genocide in Western nations, so I can’t really take their opinions seriously.
Doesn’t matter for the “condolezza” (whatever her name is) poster and the other members of the Axis Sally and Lord HawHaw brigade here.
They’ll keep posting their constant lies.
For them, Jews can do no right.
Only the truly ignorant or the brain-dead actually believe the genocide nonsense.
What would we do if Mexico invaded the US 3 times, fired incessant rocket barrages, and committed non-stop terrorist strikes on US families?
Good article. Thanks for posting.
“Indeed, Hamas’s military strategy depends heavily on operating within densely populated civilian zones.”
I think the moral culpability lies in the use of human shields. “Using human shields” should have the same moral and emotional impact as “committing genocide.”
Muslim terrorists don’t wear uniforms because they want to blend in with the civilian populace. As stated, they operate within densely populated civilian zones. Their operations are cowardly and intentionally lead to civilian casualties. Terrorists increase civilian casualties so the Tucker Carlsens of the world can blame Israel. He shares culpability also.
“he could have revealed the fact that the Gaza population has increased since 10/8/23.”
Good point. Israel is doing a terrible job of Democide in Gaza.
Grok:
“... compiled from consistent sources (e.g., Wikimedia data tab / U.S. Census projections and Blue Marble Citizen summaries):
1950: ~245,000 (sharp rise from refugee influx after 1948).
1960: ~308,000
1970: ~343,000
1980: ~455,000
1990: ~645,000.
2000: ~1.13 million
2010: ~1.60 million
2020: ~1.92 million
2022–2023: ~2.0 million (pre-major war impacts).
Mid-2020s: Estimates ~2.1 million”
Well, Israel gov’mt deliberately disarmed its populace. So South Texas folks would react differently.
Israel made a big mistake. However, their internal situation is much more precarious with 18% of the Israeli population being Muslim.
Israel’s Conduct in Gaza Does Not Resemble Genocide
Duh!
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