The genocide in Gaza is not an isolated accusation: it is a fact documented by the UN, Amnesty International, and multiple human rights organizations. What we are witnessing, almost in real time, is the systematic destruction of a people: mass killings, forced displacements, blockade of humanitarian aid, and impossible living conditions. This article explains why this constitutes genocide under international law and what are the most effective ways to exert pressure through the boycott of Israel.

Why what is happening in Gaza is genocide?

1. Mass killing of civilians
   Thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died under indiscriminate bombings and planned attacks on residential areas, hospitals, schools, and refugee camps.
2. Destruction of basic living conditions
   Israel systematically blocks water, electricity, fuel, food, and medicine, leaving the population without means to survive. The UN has declared that this is equivalent to creating conditions for the physical destruction of the Palestinian people.
3. Forced displacements and ethnic cleansing
   Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes under military threats. Evacuation orders and the systematic siege of urban areas are part of a strategy to empty Gaza.
4. Declared intent
   Israeli political and military leaders have made public statements that dehumanize Palestinians and justify their extermination. This, combined with the policies implemented, demonstrates the genocidal intent required under international law.
5. International recognition
   The International Court of Justice has already issued precautionary measures recognizing that there are well-founded reasons to consider that Israel is committing genocide. Amnesty International and the UN Inquiry Commission have confirmed this assessment.

Genocide in real time

Unlike other historical genocides, Gaza is a unique case: it is documented almost live thanks to journalists, social media, and international organizations. Images, testimonies, and daily-released figures confirm that this is not “collateral damage” but a systematic project to destroy the Palestinian people.

How we can respond: the boycott of Israel

In the face of inaction by many governments, civil society has a peaceful but powerful tool: boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS). Here are some ways to participate:

1. Economic boycott
   • Refuse Israeli products and those from companies complicit in the occupation.
   • Promote campaigns in supermarkets and stores to identify and remove these products.
2. Financial divestment
   • Demand that universities, banks, pension funds, and companies withdraw investments from firms that finance or benefit from the genocide.
3. Cultural and academic sanctions
   • Cancel collaborations with Israeli institutions that support the occupation or remain silent about the genocide.
   • Promote cultural and educational spaces in solidarity with Palestine.
4. Political and diplomatic pressure
   • Urge governments to impose arms embargoes and sanctions on Israel.
   • Support UN resolutions and international court actions that demand accountability.
5. Action on social media and in the press
   • Share testimonies, reports, and verified materials that show the reality in Gaza.
   • Break the information blockade and challenge the official narrative attempting to justify the unjustifiable.

Companies and brands directly or indirectly related to Israel’s genocide.
Boycott BDS movement.

Companies and brands singled out in UN reports, NGOs and popular boycott campaigns for their direct or indirect links to the State of Israel and the occupation of Palestine.

Conclusion

What is happening in Gaza is internationally recognized as genocide. It is not a “conflict” or “collateral damage,” but a deliberate plan to erase the Palestinian people. History will judge us not only for the crimes committed but also for our passivity in the face of them. Therefore, the boycott of Israel is not just a right: it is a moral duty to stop the extermination and fight for justice.

References:

• United Nations – Independent International Commission of Inquiry
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_International_Commission_of_Inquiry_on_the_Occupied_Palestinian_Territory

• Amnesty International – 2024 Report
  • https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza

• United Nations News
  • https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147976

• International Court of Justice – Case South Africa v. Israel
  • https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203447

• BDS Campaign – Official
  • https://bdsmovement.net