Tel aviv: Israeli-American scholar Omer Bartov said Saturday that the war in the Gaza Strip constitutes a form of genocide under the UN definition. Omer Bartov, a professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University in the US, elaborated in detail on the issues he addressed through events in Gaza and his criticisms of Zionism in his new book, 'Israel: What Went Wrong?' in an interview with The New Yorker magazine.
According to Anadolu Agency, Bartov stated that large-scale destruction has occurred in Gaza, emphasizing that the killing of a large number of Palestinians falls within the scope of war crimes and crimes against humanity. "There is rhetoric in Israel that has genocidal characteristics," he said. "Some officials serving in the Israeli government, army and security structures are making statements that have genocidal characteristics."
The scholar asserted that the US administration, during the term of former President Joe Biden, did not intervene in what was happening in Gaza and said Israel would not be able to continue attacking Gaza without American support. "Israel could only sustain an operation of this scale and intensity with the continuous support of the US. Weapons, economic aid and especially diplomatic protection provided through veto power at the UN Security Council are the main elements of this support," said Bartov.
Pointing out that the Israeli government aims to remove the population in Gaza from the region, Bartov stated that the approach has evolved from ethnic cleansing into genocide. "Some feel uncomfortable because they know that what I say about Gaza is true," he noted, acknowledging a group that does not want to describe what is happening in Gaza as genocide and those who associate the events with the Jewish Holocaust.
Describing the situation as 'a particular genocide,' Bartov clarified, "What is happening does not resemble the Holocaust. What is happening in Gaza is not the Holocaust," he stated. "What is happening in Gaza is a particular genocide. It is very different from the Holocaust and corresponds to the UN definition of genocide."
Stating that Israel's intentions in Gaza are clear and visible, Bartov said, "At the moment, the people of Gaza are living in less than half of the territory. They have no shelter, they are living in tents, they have no infrastructure, and no one is doing anything about it."
He mentioned plans to create a holiday area in Gaza for wealthy groups and a model where Palestinians would work in low-paid cleaning and service jobs, spending the rest of their time in so-called humanitarian aid centers resembling concentration camps.
Addressing the root of the problem, Bartov suggested it lies in Zionism, dating back to 1948. He stated that Israel, never having had a Constitution and the transformation of Zionism into a state ideology, are among the things that 'went wrong.' Emphasizing that Israel has, over time, turned into an ideology fueled by extremism, militarism, and racism, ultimately leading to genocide, Bartov said, "Anyone who supports this understanding becomes a partner in the actions of this political ideology."
The scholar observed that criticism of support for Israel has increased in right-wing and left-wing circles in the US due to its influence on policies, leading some groups to distance themselves from Israel. He speculated that the situation could be positive for Israel and believes Israel should free itself from dependence on the US.
Gaza's Government Media Office reported on April 14 that Israel committed 2,400 violations of a ceasefire agreement signed last October, including killings, arrests, blockade measures, and starvation policies. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israeli ceasefire violations had killed 809 Palestinians and wounded 2,267 since the truce took effect. The ceasefire followed two years of genocide that began in October 2023, killing more than 72,000 Palestinians and injuring over 172,000, while devastating 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure.