1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 12
OVERVIEW OF ISRAEL’S OFFENSIVE 14
GENOCIDE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW 17
KILLINGS AND SERIOUS INJURIES 18
INFLICTING CONDITIONS OF LIFE CALCULATED TO BRING ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIANS 21
SPECIFIC INTENT 31
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 35
2. SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY 39
2.1 SCOPE 39
2.2 METHODOLOGY 43
2.2.1 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 43
2.2.2 ENGAGEMENT WITH ISRAELI AND HAMAS AUTHORITIES 45
2.2.3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 46
3. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT 47
3.1 SITUATION IN GAZA PRIOR TO 7 OCTOBER 2023 47
3.1.1 DISPOSSESSION, PROLONGED OCCUPATION AND APARTHEID 47
3.1.2 BLOCKADE 50
3.1.3 IMPUNITY FOR WAR CRIMES AND VIOLATIONS 53
3.2 EVENTS SINCE 7 OCTOBER 2023 56
3.2.1 HAMAS-LED ATTACKS ON 7 OCTOBER 2023 56
3.2.2 ISRAEL’S OFFENSIVE ON GAZA 57
3.2.3 ROCKET AND MORTAR FIRE BY PALESTINIAN ARMED GROUPS 60
3.2.4 INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE 61
3.2.5 ISRAELI SETTLEMENT EXPANSION AND SETTLER VIOLENCE 67
4. ISRAEL’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW 70
4.1 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW 70
4.1.1 NATURE OF ARMED CONFLICT 71
4.1.2 LAW OF BELLIGERENT OCCUPATION 72
4.1.3 RULES ON CONDUCT OF HOSTILITIES 75
4.2 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW 80
5. GENOCIDE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW 85
5.1 PROHIBITION 85
5.2 DEFINITION 88
5.3 GENOCIDAL ACTS 89
5.4 PALESTINIANS AS A PROTECTED GROUP 93
5.5 SPECIFIC INTENT 97
5.5.1 INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY 98
5.5.2 STATE INTENT 101
5.5.3 APPROACHING ISRAEL’S INTENT IN GAZA 104
6. ISRAEL’S ACTIONS IN GAZA 106
6.1 KILLING AND CAUSING SERIOUS HARM 106
6.1.1 DIRECT ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS OR INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS 107
6.1.2 SCALE OF KILLINGS AND INJURIES 119
6.1.3 PROHIBITED ACTS 122
6.2 INFLICTING CONDITIONS OF LIFE CALCULATED TO BRING ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF
PALESTINIANS 123
6.2.1 DAMAGE TO AND DESTRUCTION OF OBJECTS INDISPENSABLE TO SURVIVAL OF CIVILIAN POPULATION 124
6.2.2 MASS FORCED DISPLACEMENT IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS 131
6.2.3 DENIAL AND OBSTRUCTION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND LIFE-SAVING SUPPLIES 146
6.2.4 RESULTING CONDITIONS OF LIFE 187
6.2.5 PROHIBITED ACTS 199
7. ISRAEL’S INTENT IN GAZA 202
7.1 PATTERN OF CONDUCT 205
7.1.1 DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE ATTACKS 205
7.1.2 INFLICTING CONDITIONS OF LIFE CALCULATED TO BRING ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIANS 212
7.1.3 DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SITES 216
7.1.4 INCOMMUNICADO DETENTION, TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT 233
7.2 DEHUMANIZATION OF PALESTINIANS 235
7.2.1 PRE-EXISTING DISCOURSE 236
7.2.2 ESCALATING USE OF DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE 239
7.3 STATEMENTS ON DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIANS 241
7.3.1 CALLS FOR NO HUMANITARIAN AID UNTIL HOSTAGES ARE RELEASED 244
7.3.2 STATEMENTS THAT THERE ARE NO ‘UNINVOLVED CIVILIANS’ 252
7.3.3 CALLS FOR ANNIHILATION OF GAZA 257
7.3.4 ECHOES OF CALLS FOR TOTAL DESTRUCTION 264
7.3.5 CELEBRATION OF DESTRUCTION 268
7.3.6 OFFICIAL ISRAELI NARRATIVE AND OTHER EXPLANATIONS ABOUT STATEMENTS 273
7.3.7 IMPUNITY FOR CALLS FOR DESTRUCTION 275
7.4 INTENT TO DESTROY PALESTINIANS 278
8. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 283
8.1 CONCLUSION 283
8.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 283
8.2.1 ISRAELI AUTHORITIES 284
8.2.2 HAMAS AND OTHER PALESTINIAN ARMED GROUPS 288
8.2.3 AUTHORITIES OF STATE OF PALESTINE 289
8.2.4 THIRD STATES 289
8.2.5 OFFICE OF PROSECUTOR OF ICC 292
8.2.6 UN BODIES 293
