By Carlos Taylhardat, curated by human editors for balanced analysis across political, ethical, and legal viewpoints.

“There is no starvation in Gaza,” declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. But hours later, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly contradicted him:
“I saw the footage. People are starving. That’s the truth.” ¹

Meanwhile, in The Hague, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is deliberating whether Israel’s military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide — one of the gravest legal accusations a nation can face.

What’s Happening—and Why It Matters

Nine months into the Gaza conflict, the human toll is staggering. According to the United Nations, more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, including thousands of women and children. Gaza’s infrastructure is in ruins, and over 80% of the population is displaced. The region is now facing a UN-declared famine, and humanitarian aid continues to be restricted or delayed.

The ICJ is investigating whether Israel’s actions meet the definition of genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The charge doesn’t only implicate Netanyahu’s government — it places the entire international order on trial: What happens when a democracy is accused of genocide? ramifications, from U.S. foreign aid to the foundations of international humanitarian law.

Narrative 1: The Israeli Government’s Stance

Israel has rejected all genocide allegations as “absurd and unfounded.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his most recent address, said:

“Israel is fighting Hamas, not the Palestinian people. Our actions are guided by the laws of war and international humanitarian standards.” ²

Israeli officials emphasize that Hamas started the war with a cross-border attack on October 7, 2024, killing over 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostages. The military campaign, they say, targets Hamas infrastructure — not civilians — and precautions are taken to minimize civilian harm.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant explained:

“Every effort is made to create humanitarian corridors and issue evacuation orders. Hamas is the one endangering civilians by embedding itself in hospitals, schools, and UN buildings.”

Israel also disputes the famine allegations. Government spokesperson Eylon Levy insisted the Israeli military has facilitated “hundreds of aid trucks daily,” blaming Hamas and UN logistical issues for disruptions in food distribution.

“You cannot accuse us of genocide while Hamas steals flour from aid convoys and uses civilian sites as human shields,” Levy added.

In this view, the war is regrettable but necessary, and the international community, including the ICJ, is being manipulated by actors hostile to Israel’s right to self-defence.

Narrative 2: Israeli Critics & Human Rights Voices

Within Israel, a growing chorus is questioning both the strategy and morality of the war.

Families of hostages have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding a negotiated ceasefire and the return of their loved ones. Protests in Haifa and Jerusalem have turned chants like “Bring them home now!” and “Not in our name!” into national refrains.

Former Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo publicly warned,

“You can’t cage millions of people indefinitely and expect peace. This isn’t about security anymore — it’s about denial and hubris.”

Human rights groups inside and outside Israel are more direct.

B’Tselem, Israel’s leading human rights organization, called the military campaign “a policy of vengeance.” In a June report, the group stated:

“This is not self-defense. This is collective punishment of a civilian population, carried out with lethal intent and disregard for life.” ³

Amnesty International joined the criticism, releasing a detailed brief that alleges systematic attacks on civilian infrastructure, including water systems, hospitals, and food depots.

“We are witnessing the intentional destruction of life-sustaining systems — a hallmark of genocidal violence,” said Secretary General Agnes Callamard.

Israeli scholars, such as Tel Aviv University professor Dahlia Scheindlin, argue the government is using the war to consolidate political power and silence dissent.

“Israel’s democracy is being disfigured in real time, even as we bomb a population into starvation.”

Narrative 3: The World on Trial: ICJ, UN, and the Silent Civilians

The International Court of Justice has already taken the first step: In January 2025, it ruled that South Africa’s case against Israel is “plausible” and that urgent measures must be taken to prevent genocide.

You can read the ICJ’s official interim ruling here.

This is not the first time the ICJ has confronted such claims. In 2007, the court ruled that Serbia failed to prevent genocide in Srebrenica during the Bosnian War. In 2020, it opened proceedings against Myanmar over its treatment of the Rohingya people. In both cases, the judgments were seen as slow but symbolically powerful.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, said earlier this month:

“We are witnessing the first digitally documented genocide in real time. The world cannot claim ignorance.”

Even longtime allies are shifting. The United States abstained from a UN Security Council vote condemning Israeli airstrikes on refugee camps. Most of the Global South has aligned with South Africa’s ICJ claim. In a surprising move, even Donald Trump, once one of Netanyahu’s strongest supporters, distanced himself.

“This is not how you win a war. You don’t bomb kids and call it peace,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday.

Civilians in Gaza — doctors, teachers, parents — are the ones suffering in silence.
Amina Baroudi, a nurse interviewed by Al Jazeera, said:

“We are not Hamas. We are starving. We are dying. Who is going to save us?”

In the streets of Cairo, Johannesburg, and Paris, protests have erupted not just against Israel, but against the international system’s failure to prevent mass atrocities, again.

📌 Key Takeaways

• Israel is under investigation for genocide by the ICJ, joining a short list of state-level cases in modern history
• The Israeli government insists the war targets Hamas, not civilians, and that famine claims are exaggerated or manipulated
• Human rights groups argue the scale and intent of destruction qualify as genocide
• Even Trump has broken from Netanyahu, saying famine is real and civilian suffering unacceptable
• The world is asking: If this isn’t genocide, what is?

❓ Questions This Article Answers

1. What is genocide under international law?
   Genocide is defined as acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
2. Is Israel officially being tried for genocide?
   Yes. The ICJ is currently reviewing evidence in a case brought by South Africa.
3. What is the UN’s position on Gaza famine?
   The UN has officially declared famine conditions in parts of Gaza and warned of catastrophic civilian impact.
4. What has Donald Trump said about the situation?
   Trump has contradicted Netanyahu, stating “people are starving” and the situation is “a disaster.”
5. How are Israeli citizens reacting to the war?
   Protests are increasing. Many are calling for hostage deals, ceasefires, and an end to mass bombardments.