Israel and Genocide in Gaza: Rift in the Commission and Legal Analyses

European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera has raised questions about whether Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, sparking discussions within the Commission.

Five academics and legal experts analyze the definition of genocide and its application to the case of Gaza, examining evidence and legal prerequisites.

Melanie O’Brien, Associate Professor of International Law, argues that Israel's actions, taken together, constitute strong evidence of genocide, considering leaders' statements and the number of victims.

Eyal Mayroz, Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, points out the complexity of the definition of genocide and the need for a legal decision by the International Court of Justice.

Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor of Law, states that Israel's behavior violates at least three acts of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Ben Saul, Professor of International Law, considers it reasonably arguable that Israel's actions amount to genocide.

Paul James, Professorial Fellow, suggests the term "extermination" as a less contested description of the criminal acts in Gaza, referring to the deliberate imposition of living conditions aimed at destroying part of the population.