Alan Dershowitz: There Is No ‘Genocide’ In Gaza — Why This Assertion Mirrors Holocaust Denial

Controversy Over Use of “Genocide” in the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Recently, some critics of Israel have adopted the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s actions following the violent events of October 7, 2023, when over 1,400 Israelis were killed, alongside reports of atrocities like rape and beheading.

In a piece for the New York Times, Omar Bartov, who identifies as a genocide scholar, claims to witness genocide occurring in Gaza—though, notably, he does not acknowledge the events in Israel on that date.

The King of Jordan also labeled Israel’s actions as genocide. This concept, particularly prevalent in discussions at universities, raises significant questions about its validity and appropriateness.

Critics argue that these accusations distort history and trivialize the concept of genocide. It overlooks the moral and legal complexities involved. While the term might be tossed around in discussions of various conflicts, using it in the context of Israel and Gaza oversimplifies a profoundly serious issue.

Genocide, as we understand it, was explicitly illustrated during the Holocaust, where six million Jews were systematically exterminated, a strategy that diverged sharply from military objectives.

In Gaza, however, civilian deaths are considered collateral damage in a legitimate military campaign directed at Hamas, the group responsible for the October 7 attacks. Some would argue that even those who believe Israel’s approach may lead to excessive civilian casualties must recognize that it diverges significantly from the horrific means employed by the Nazis.

To compare these situations too directly suggests either that the Israeli government seeks to actively annihilate individuals based on race or that its military measures are morally equivalent to Nazi atrocities—both of which seem dubious at best.

What is happening in Gaza cannot be equated with the planned genocide discussed at the Wannsee Conference in 1942. The military strategies employed by the Allies against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan also resulted in civilian casualties, often to cripple morale and force surrender, but their ultimate goals were different.

The comparison may even favor Israel. The ratio of civilian to combatant deaths in Gaza appears lower than historical precedents and is complicated by the use of human shields by Hamas, which intentionally endangers civilians.

As Israel seeks to neutralize threats posed by Hamas, it does so under tremendous scrutiny—unlike Hamas, which benefits from international sympathy whenever civilian casualties occur, particularly among children.