Israel is Committing Genocide

1. International Laws and Regulations

Israel, through the actions of Ministers Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Katz,
Yoav Gallant, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is violating multiple
international laws and regulations by blocking humanitarian aid into
Gaza.
These violations include:

-   Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), Article 33: Prohibits collective
    punishment, yet the siege and aid blockade collectively punish
    Gaza’s civilian population, as confirmed by Gallant’s October 9,
    2023, “complete siege” order and Smotrich’s April 8, 2025, vow to
    block all aid, including wheat.
-   International Humanitarian Law (IHL): Under Additional Protocol I
    (1977), Article 54, starving civilians as a method of warfare is
    prohibited. The IPC’s June 2024 famine warning and Katz’s April 16,
    2025, admission of using aid denial as a “pressure tool” against the
    population breach this norm.
-   UN Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018): Condemns the use of
    starvation of civilians as a weapon of war and calls for unimpeded
    humanitarian access. Israel’s sustained blockade, intensified over
    seven weeks by April 2025, flagrantly violates this resolution.
-   Rome Statute (1998), Article 8(2)(b)(xxv): War crimes include
    starving civilians by depriving them of objects indispensable to
    survival. The IDF’s enforcement of the siege, blocking food and
    medical supplies, directly contravenes this provision.

These actions collectively breach obligations to protect civilian lives
during armed conflict, exposing Israel, its ministers, and the IDF to
legal accountability.

2. Actus Reus and Mens Rea for Genocide

The statements and actions of these ministers, combined with the IDF’s
conduct, establish both actus reus and mens rea for genocide under
Article II of the UN Genocide Convention (1948) and Article 6 of the
Rome Statute:

-   Actus Reus: The prohibited act under Article II(c)—“deliberately
    inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about
    its physical destruction in whole or in part”—is evident. The
    “complete siege” (Gallant, 2023), total aid blockage (Smotrich,
    2025), and policy enforcement (Katz, 2025) have led to a famine,
    with the IPC reporting 495,000 Gazans in catastrophic food
    insecurity by June 2024, a crisis likely exacerbated by April 2025.
    The IDF’s occupation and aid denial, as noted by Katz, directly
    inflict these conditions on Palestinians as a national group.
-   Mens Rea: Intent to destroy, in whole or in part, is demonstrated by
    the ministers’ rhetoric and policy. Gallant’s dehumanizing “human
    animals” statement (2023), Smotrich’s justification of starving two
    million Gazans as “moral” (August 5, 2024), and Katz’s framing of
    aid denial as a deliberate pressure tactic (2025) reveal a
    calculated intent to target the Palestinian population, not just
    Hamas. This consistency across three senior officials over 18 months
    suggests a state-orchestrated genocidal policy.

This dual fulfillment of actus reus and mens rea provides a robust legal
basis for charging Israel and these officials with genocide.

3. Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Demands Action

The Responsibility to Protect (R2P), enshrined in the UN Charter (2005
World Summit Outcome, paragraphs 138-139), IHL, and international law,
obligates the UN and individual states to act when a population faces
genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. The R2P framework
mandates:

-   Prevention and Response: Israel’s blockade and resulting famine
    constitute a clear R2P trigger. The UN and states must employ
    sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and, if necessary, military action
    to protect Gaza’s civilians, as the government has manifestly failed
    to do so.
-   Legal Basis: IHL and the UN Charter (Article 39) authorize
    collective action to maintain international peace and security when
    atrocities occur.
    The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with hospitals closing and
    starvation rampant, demands immediate intervention to prevent
    further loss of life.

Failure to act violates the global commitment to R2P, placing the onus
on the international community to safeguard Palestinian civilians.

4. ICJ Provisional Measures and UNSC/UNGA Duty

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures on
January 26, 2024, and subsequent orders in 2024, mandating Israel to
prevent genocide in Gaza, including ensuring humanitarian aid access.
Israel’s non-compliance, evidenced by the ministers’ statements and the
IDF’s continued blockade, constitutes a direct violation. Under the UN
Charter (Article 94(2)), the UN Security Council (UNSC) is duty-bound to
enforce ICJ rulings.
However, if the U.S. veto paralyzes the UNSC, Resolution 377A(V)
(“Uniting for Peace”) transfers this responsibility to the UN General
Assembly (UNGA).
This legal framework compels action to compel Israel’s adherence to
international law.

5. UNGA’s Urgent Role Under ES-10

The UNGA must urgently reconvene under Emergency Special Session 10
(ES-10), where Resolution 377 is already in place, to recommend measures
to protect Gaza’s civilians and prevent a holocaust. The escalating
famine, with NGOs declaring a manmade catastrophe, mirrors historical
atrocities, necessitating decisive action. The UNGA should impose
sanctions on Israel, sever diplomatic ties with offending officials, and
authorize a coalition of willing states to use military force if needed
to ensure aid delivery and halt the genocide, fulfilling its mandate to
maintain peace and protect human rights.

6. ICC Arrest Warrants for Smotrich and Katz

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for
Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, for war
crimes, including “starvation as a method of warfare”. Given the
identical genocidal intent and acts by Smotrich and Katz—blocking aid
with intent to destroy Palestinians—the ICC must urgently issue arrest
warrants for them. Their public statements and the resulting famine
provide sufficient evidence under Article 6 of the Rome Statute,
ensuring accountability alongside their co-conspirators.

Conclusion

The international community cannot remain idle. Israel’s violations, the
ministers’ genocidal intent, and the IDF’s actions demand UNSC
enforcement of ICJ measures, UNGA action under ES-10, and ICC
prosecution of Smotrich and Katz to prevent a preventable catastrophe.