Israel's Occupation of Gaza: A New Chapter in Genocide

One might think that images of starving children, as political leaders withhold aid and openly call for ethnic cleansing, would be topping news agendas everywhere. In the case of Gaza, the failure of many in the international media to meet the moment has made them part of the story.

Lead contributors:
Chris Doyle – Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding
Daniel Levy – President, US/Middle East Project
Muhammad Shehada – Visiting fellow, ECFR
Sarah Leah Whitson – Director, DAWN

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Seeking justice on Ghana’s courtroom shows

If you are dealing with something personal and painful – a broken marriage or a family dispute – you might turn to a friend. For something as serious as sexual assault, it might go to trial. But in Ghana, more and more people are turning somewhere else: live radio. The so-called “justice-style” shows promise swift, public resolutions. But they are also controversial, with critics accusing them of turning private pain into primetime theatre.

Featuring:
George Sarpong – Executive secretary, National Media Commission
Menenaba – Ghanaian writer
Oheneni Adazoa – Host, Sompa Nkomo Show
Zakaria Tanko Musah – Lecturer in media law and ethics, Journalism Institute

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Title: Israel’s Occupation of Gaza: A New Chapter in Conflict, Humanitarian Crisis, and Legal Controversy

Introduction

The situation in Gaza has once again escalated into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern history. Israel’s military operations in Gaza, following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, have led to widespread destruction, displacement, and loss of life. While Israel asserts its right to self-defence, international human rights bodies and legal scholars are increasingly scrutinising the extent and nature of the military actions. Some experts and humanitarian observers are now questioning whether these actions could amount to crimes under international law—including genocide.

Historical Context

The Gaza Strip, a 365 km² enclave along the Mediterranean coast, has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. Although Israel withdrew its settlers and military from Gaza in 2005, it maintained control over airspace, maritime borders, and most land crossings. This has led many, including the United Nations, to still consider Gaza “occupied territory” under international law.

Since the rise of Hamas in 2007, Gaza has been under a strict Israeli blockade, with Egypt controlling the southern Rafah border. This has severely limited the movement of goods, people, and humanitarian aid. Periodic conflicts—2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, and most recently 2023–2025—have devastated infrastructure, displaced populations, and caused mounting civilian casualties.

2023–2025 Escalation and Aftermath

In the aftermath of the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023, Israel launched a full-scale military offensive into Gaza, resulting in:

Tens of thousands of civilian deaths, including women and children
Near-total destruction of housing, hospitals, and critical infrastructure
Forced displacement of over 1.7 million Palestinians
Widespread food and water shortages, prompting warnings of famine
Severe restrictions on humanitarian access

Israel has stated that its military campaign targets Hamas militants and infrastructure, while critics argue that the disproportionate use of force and indiscriminate bombing patterns have led to mass civilian casualties. Hospitals, schools, and UN-run shelters have been bombed, drawing harsh condemnation from international bodies.

The Genocide Allegation

The term genocide is legally defined by the 1948 UN Genocide Convention as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. In January 2024, South Africa brought a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza. The ICJ has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts, but has not yet ruled on the merits.

Allegations rest on:

The scale and systematic nature of the destruction
Dehumanising rhetoric from certain Israeli officials
Targeting of civilian infrastructure and aid channels
Forced displacement of populations without the ability to return

Israel rejects the genocide accusation as politically motivated and maintains that it is operating within the bounds of international humanitarian law. It accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields and embedding military operations within civilian areas.

International Reaction

United Nations: Repeatedly condemned the scale of civilian suffering. UN agencies like UNRWA have had their operations halted or restricted.
International NGOs: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Médecins Sans Frontières have described the actions as war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.
Western governments: The United States, UK, and others have continued to supply military and diplomatic support to Israel, although calls for restraint have grown.
Public opinion: Mass protests around the world have called for a ceasefire, divestment campaigns, and accountability under international law.

Legal and Ethical Questions

There are multiple legal frameworks under review:

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) – Prohibits attacks on civilians and requires proportionality.
International Criminal Law (ICL) – Covers war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) – An emerging norm requiring international intervention in the case of mass atrocities.

Legal experts are divided. Some claim that the “intent to destroy” required for genocide has not been clearly established, while others argue that both rhetorical statements and military patterns point toward genocidal conduct.

A Humanitarian Catastrophe

Regardless of legal definitions, the facts on the ground present a horrifying picture:

A generation of children traumatised or killed
A health system collapsed under bombardment
Entire communities reduced to rubble
Famine-level food insecurity as aid convoys are blocked or attacked

The Gaza conflict is not only a geopolitical crisis but a human tragedy of monumental scale. The international community’s failure to impose ceasefires or enforce accountability raises ethical and moral concerns about global governance and the selective application of justice.

Conclusion

The occupation, blockade, and destruction of Gaza represent more than a military campaign—they reveal the ongoing failure of diplomacy, law, and collective conscience. While the world debates whether this chapter should be labelled a genocide, for those in Gaza, it is a lived experience of annihilation. Whether justice will be delivered—through international courts or future political reform—remains uncertain. What is certain is the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access, and a renewed commitment to human rights and peacebuilding.