Background
The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), a 500-member body of experts, was founded in 1994 to advance research and awareness of genocide and mass atrocity crimes. Since then, it has passed nine resolutions recognizing historic or ongoing genocides. Its assessments carry weight in shaping academic, legal, and policy debates. The resolution comes as Israel continues to face a high-profile genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, brought by South Africa in 2023.
What Happened?
On September 1, 2025, IAGS adopted a resolution declaring that Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under Article II of the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention.
The resolution passed with 86% support from voting members.
It cited deliberate attacks on civilians, starvation, denial of aid, forced displacement, and other actions as falling under genocide and crimes against humanity.
The resolution also recognized Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel as constituting international crimes.
Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond, though it has consistently rejected genocide allegations, framing its actions as self-defence after Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages.
Why It Matters:
This is one of the most definitive statements yet from an academic body specializing in genocide studies, reinforcing claims already made by U.N. staff, rights groups, and NGOs. While not legally binding, the resolution places moral and scholarly weight on the argument that Israel’s Gaza campaign constitutes genocide, raising pressure on states to act under the U.N. Genocide Convention. It also risks deepening Israel’s international isolation and shaping the narrative as ICJ proceedings move forward.
Stakeholder Reactions:
- Melanie O’Brien, IAGS President: Called it a “definitive statement” by genocide experts that events in Gaza amount to genocide.
- Sergey Vasiliev, Open University (Netherlands): Said the resolution shows that the genocide assessment has become “mainstream within academia.”
- Hamas spokesperson Ismail Al-Thawabta: Welcomed the resolution, saying it “reinforces the documented evidence and facts” before international courts and obliges the global community to act.
- Israel: Has denied genocide accusations, maintaining its military actions are aimed at Hamas and carried out under its right to self-defence.
- U.N. OHCHR staff: Hundreds recently urged Commissioner Volker Türk to use the term genocide in describing Gaza, showing growing pressure within the U.N. system.
What’s Next?
The resolution adds momentum to global calls for accountability and could influence ongoing debates at the ICJ, though a final ruling there will take years. In the meantime, governments may face increased political pressure to act under their Genocide Convention obligations, including calls to suspend arms sales, enforce sanctions, or demand humanitarian access. The statement also highlights the growing role of civil society and academic institutions in shaping discourse on international crimes when intergovernmental bodies remain cautious.
