If the situation in Gaza is an earthly hell, then the scenes in northern Gaza are a harrowing nightmare. The U.N. official’s words ring true as Israel continues to escalate its airstrikes and ground attacks. Palestinians flee in the tens of thousands, forcibly removed from their homes as a result of the bombardments. More than half of Gaza’s housing has been devastated over the past month.
The Biden administration announced a plan for Israel to institute daily four-hour pauses in the northern areas, allowing Palestinians to relocate south. This move has sparked fears among Palestinians that they may never be able to return to their homes, with some accusing the U.S. of enabling ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Comparisons have been made to the Nakba of 1948, when 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly removed from their homes upon Israel’s establishment.
Israeli-born historian Omer Bartov, a professor at Brown specializing in Holocaust and genocide studies, recently penned a letter sounding the alarm on the potential for genocide in Gaza. Professor Bartov brings a unique perspective to the discussion, drawing from his personal experience as an IDF soldier in the 1970s. His time in the northern Sinai and Gaza has deeply impacted his views on the current situation, emphasizing the urgent need to end the ongoing occupation.
The conversation then pivots to the distinction between terms like “war crime,” “crime against humanity,” and “genocide,” shedding light on the complexities of these definitions. Professor Bartov underscores the intentional nature of genocide and warns against conflating other crimes with genocide. He stresses the importance of differentiating these categories when evaluating the situation in Gaza.
In analyzing the current events, Professor Bartov points to alarming statements made by Israeli leaders, which hint at the intention of ethnic cleansing and genocidal acts in Gaza. He also notes the disproportionate civilian casualties and expresses concern over the strategic placement of Hamas targets in civilian areas, leading to unintended civilian casualties.
The solemn and thoughtful discussion with Professor Bartov sheds light on the gravity of the situation in Gaza and the urgency of addressing the ongoing crisis.
