The ongoing conflict in Gaza has raised grave concerns about the potential for genocide, with experts warning that the violence could spread to other Palestinian territories.
The death toll in Gaza has surged, with reports indicating it is approaching 60,000, a figure representing over 2.5% of the pre-war population. Some proponents of Israel‘s military actions have argued that this casualty rate is too low to be considered genocide. However, legal experts clarify that the crime of genocide, as defined by international conventions, targets a group “in whole or in part” and does not necessitate the elimination of every individual.
According to legal scholar Novak, the possibility of a genocide targeting Palestinians as a collective stems from decades of dehumanization and the denial of their rights by Israel. He suggests that collective trauma was exploited by far-right political factions to advance a long-standing agenda. The events of October 7th are described as a pivotal moment for Israelis, instilling a profound sense of existential threat, which afterward shifted the operational approach in Gaza from control and oppression to destruction and extermination.
A report from the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem highlights the urgent risk that the genocidal campaign in Gaza could expand to encompass other Palestinian populations. Novak expressed concern that Israel has acquired a new “tool” in the form of genocide, and the current containment of this policy to Gaza cannot be relied upon indefinitely.
The West Bank is identified as a particular area of concern. Since October 7, 2023, there has been an escalation of attacks and alleged ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,000 Palestinians and the displacement of over 40,000 individuals from communities such as Jenin and Tulkarem. novak observed that the same regime, logic, military, commanders, and soldiers involved in Gaza are now operating in the West Bank, where violence is on the rise. The fear is that any minor incident could trigger a spillover of genocidal actions from Gaza into the West Bank.
