• Two prominent Israeli rights groups, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, accuse Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
• This marks the first time local Jewish-led organizations have made such declarations during the ongoing conflict.
• The reports detail systematic actions leading to the destruction of Palestinian societal structures and healthcare.
• Former officials and legal experts echo these accusations, stressing the moral responsibility to act against such claims.
• International attention highlights the worsening humanitarian crisis as over 60,000 Palestinians have reportedly died since October 2023.

On July 28, 2025, two leading Israeli human rights organizations, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI), publicly accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, breaking a long-standing taboo in Israeli society. Their reports conclude that the Israeli government engages in "coordinated, deliberate action to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip," a serious charge amidst ongoing military operations that commenced after Hamas's deadly attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 Israelis, according to reports from Middle East Eye, Los Angeles Times, and HuffPost.

The B'Tselem report emphasizes that Israel's actions have led to catastrophic conditions for Palestinians and constitute a clear case of genocide under international law. “An examination of Israel's policy in the Gaza Strip and its horrific outcomes, together with statements by senior Israeli politicians...leads us to the unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society,” stated Yuli Novak, B'Tselem's executive director. This assertion aligns with findings from other global rights bodies, marking a critical turning point in the ongoing conflict, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

PHRI focused on the dismantling of Gaza's healthcare infrastructure, claiming that evidence suggests a deliberate assault on medical systems critical for the population's survival. The report underscored how mass killings, starvation, and displacement techniques illustrate genocidal intent, echoing definitions found in the 1948 Genocide Convention, as highlighted by additional sources like Reuters and NPR.

The allegations have drawn substantial criticism and concern, not only from international human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which have previously categorized Israel's actions as genocidal, but also from former Israeli officials, including ex-attorney general Michael Ben-Yair. He remarked on social media, "Jews...are committing genocide in Gaza," a sentiment shared by others witnessing the escalation of violence, as reported by Middle East Eye and Reuters.

As the situation deteriorates, with reports indicating nearly 60,000 deaths and widespread malnutrition among Gazans due to blockades and military action, the international community’s silence and apparent complicity in failing to act against these allegations are increasingly scrutinized. The humanitarian crisis is escalating, prompting the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification to warn of famine now affecting Gaza, affirming the urgent need for foreign intervention to prevent further deaths, as detailed in reports from various sources including HuffPost and Middle East Eye.