I start my first argument by defining the terms ‘war crime’ and ‘genocide’. A war crime is defined as ‘a serious violation of international humanitarian law committed during armed conflict.’ (Legal Information Institute). Genocide is defined as ‘any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
- Killing members of the group;
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.’
(Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, un.org)
I argue that the State of Israel, currently led by PM Benjamin Netanyahu, has committed multiple severe war crimes and has attempted genocide of the people of Palestine, since the beginning of the Israel-Palestine/Hamas War on the 7th October 2023, after Hamas kidnapped and took hostage 251 innocent Israelis (figure provided by the BBC). Notable war crimes committed by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) include the targetting of schools, hospitals and other public places (mentioned by BBC, UN, Al Jazeera and more), which violates Article 8 of the Rome statute, which established the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague, defines a long list of war crimes including “intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected”. Israel has been using thousands of guided missiles in this war, and it’s been confirmed that they have used these missiles against hospitals in Gaza, for example the Ahli Arab Hospital, which incidentally is the last hospital left in Gaza with any function (and it’s on the way to being destroyed anyway, with multiple departments destroyed) (Source: BBC). These missiles were guided, and so any attack in which they were used on a target is intentional, and thus a war crime.
In addition, we have to mention the recent attack and murder of 14 Red Crescent aid workers, as well as a UN representative, on the 23rd of March 2025. At 5:08am, the convoy of ambulances that had been sent to the area to search for a previously lost ambulance, were ambushed and attacked by IDF troops. Only two survived, one was captured by the Israelis and is currently being held for no apparent reason, the other was held in custody for a short time before being released. The IDF originally claimed that the ambulance convoy was “advancing suspiciously” on Israeli troops “without sirens or headlights” (Source: X, Guardian, Sky News etc), however, a video recording from minutes before the shooting started was found on the phone of one of the deceased ambulance drivers, clearly showing that the ambulances had their headlights and sirens on, and were following the road as they should have been. Furthermore, the IDF also claimed that the convoy didn’t clear a pathway with the Israeli government through what was a “combat zone”. However, statistics and maps released by the IDF themselves show that the ambulance route (which was geolocated by Sky News journalists) was outside the “combat zone” that was shown, meaning that the convoy would’ve had no need to clear a route. Another lie. The IDF ALSO claimed that there were 9 Hamas terrorists amongst the victims, however, they later amended that number to 6. That’s 3 families AT THE VERY LEAST wrongfully accused. Not only that, but the lone free survivor of the attack, alongside the families of the victims, vehemently deny that there were any Hamas terrorists on board, and while the IDF claimed to have killed a Hamas terrorist called Mohammed Amin Shobaki, who the survivor Abed denies all knowledge of, and none of the identified victims have that name, nor are there any other likely victims to be found in the mass grave that the IDF left them in. This whole situation was a web of lies from the IDF, and I ask you: if they are in the right in this war, if they are fighting for the right cause, in the right way, why do they feel the need to lie to the public? Imagine the pain and indignity of losing a loved one, maybe he was your son, or your grandson, or your brother, or your husband, imagine the pain of losing him, finding out that you’ll never see his account appear online on social media, you’ll never hear his voice again, you’ll never know the warmth of his embrace or his love ever again, imagine that, and then imagine the military that had destroyed your home, ruined your people, potentially murdered other relatives of yours claiming that your husband/son/grandson/brother etc was a terrorist, that he was a danger to society, that he was a monster. Imagine that.
The requirements for a just war is one that is for a just cause, declared by the correct authority, the good coming out of it must outweigh the evil committed within it, it must be a last resort (diplomacy should have been attempted first), there must be a reasonable chance of victory, the force used must be proportional, the war must be fought by just means (e.g. innocent civilians shouldn’t be targetted), and internationally agreed conventions (e.g. the Geneva Conventions) must be adhered to. Israel’s war on Palestine hardly fits any of these prerequisites. While the kidnappings of innocent Israeli citizens was cruel and shocking, Israel not only declared war as a first resort, and the logic of destroying an entire country in an attempt to both kill Hamas terrorists, while keeping the Israeli hostages (who are likely with Hamas terrorists) safe seems flawed, just as using a flyswatter to kill a fly trying to eat your grape is flawed, as the same shot that will kill the Hamas terrorist will likely also kill the hostage, as potentially evidenced by only 41 hostages having been released so far. This war is not being fought by just means, innocent people and care workers are being targetted, it is not proportional, Israel is firing far more missiles at Palestine than Hamas is firing back, it’s going to take a hell of a lot of good to outweigh the atrocities being committed in this conflict, and I don’t see that amount of good coming, because it is very difficult to destroy terrorist organisations, NATO tried against the Taliban and failed, a 30 year long war that killed many people and ruined the lives of far more, and Hamas themselves said that they can grow back, and continue fighting. This is not a just war. Israel is not the knight in shining armour. The innocent people of Gaza are not the enemy, despite how they’re treated?
Moving back to genocide, Israel’s war on Gaza has been identified as a genocide by multiple professional organisations such as the UN and Amnesty International, a genocide against the people of Palestine. Israel has targetted multiple schools and hospitals throughout Gaza (Sources: BBC, French Foreign Ministry). This is no accident. This is a concerted effort to rid Palestine of its ability to care for its citizens in a competent way. Without hospitals, Palestinians will die to easily curable illnesses and injuries, the elderly, children, babies, the disabled, mothers. Imagine living in that hellscape, listening to the fruitless cries of desperate babies dying from illnesses/injuries they need not die from, the desperate calls of the elderly, potentially your grandparents, as they grow weak and ill, and eventually dead, with no grave. Imagine having to walk through the ruined streets of Gaza, listening to the wails, and groans, and the final breaths, walking through the ash, and the rubble, and the blood, knowing that these people didn’t have to die, didn’t have to be subjected to such cruel conditions, didn’t have to lose their families, their loved ones. This didn’t have to happen. Israel chose this for the people of Gaza. Israel continues to choose this for the people of Gaza. More than 50,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began, potentially fifty times the number of Israelis killed (Source: BBC). This is NOT proportional. This is genocide. Israel has also been targetting schools, 87.7% of which are now destroyed, or at least badly damaged (Sources: Save the Children, Guardian). This will ensure that in the future, young people born in Palestine will have no place to learn, no safe haven where they can follow their dreams, no steps on which to climb out of the hole of poverty that they will likely find themselves in. In addition, there will be no way to educate these children about how terrorism is wrong, and so the problem will arise continuously, not to mention the grief and hatred being incited in Gaza against Israel, that will no doubt lead people to join Hamas to get revenge anyway. The good that might come out of this war will NOT outweigh the atrocities committed within it. This is genocide.
To "Wylted"
Yeah, I don't agree. Debates are meant to be fair in structure, there is little to no limitation on outside influence, and in any case, the information I provided is equally accessible to the Pro to rebut (though we see his skills in rhetoric are clearly lacking)
Incredibly weak argument for round 1. First of all, you treat proportionality as a numbers game, in other words, whichever side has more casualties, means the other is not responding proportionally. That's not how that works. (I would provide a complete rebuttal, but I am not the Con so I won't do so at this time).
Additionally, you're lending no weight to Hamas, who have manufactured the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, through the seizure of Aid and its subsequent reselling to Gazan civilians, as well as the real and true fact that hamas continually embeds itself in civilian infrastructure. A party wishing to commit genocide does not take the unprecedented step of dropping leaflets almost every time it conducts an airstrike. Like this argument is so poor, I am honestly mind blown pro would even think to enter this debate, since they clearly know so little about the conflict, its history, and complex components. Ill leave the rest for the con, but jesus mary and joseph, Pro should concede the rest of the debate.
I am just having fun with you. Old habits. Enjoy.
Funny how someone with a chicken jockey pfp thinks they have ground to stand on to call me a “brain-dead tiktok zoomer”. I’m sorry if I prefer the UN and Amnesty International, amongst other sources to other media sources, although in all fairness I can call you out for the same things, what are your sources, how are they more credible than the UN? I’m facing this with an open mind, apologies if I sound like I’m challenging your inflated ego, because you see all of the ‘narratives’ right? I acknowledge I probably don’t know everything about this war but I doubt it would be a ridiculous claim to suggest that perhaps you don’t either? I’m not ‘easily persuaded’ I supported Israel until I looked more closely into what was happening, and even then Hamas is still in the wrong as well. Of course, I will be happy to reconsider my stance if you give me sufficient reason to, but calling me a “literal brain-dead Tik tok zoomer” isn’t a good start.
It's considered bad for to give one side ammo in a debate.
Not necessary but thank you. I only meant to give you some ammo to use in the debate, and judging by your win ratio, and clear understanding of the conflict, you have got it well in hand. I'll be back for the voting. Good luck.
If you would prefer I can forfeit and you can take this debate.
I'm eager to see your responses, and arguments.
The assertion that Israel's war against Gaza is unjust and genocidal fails under scrutiny for three primary reasons: the legal basis for self-defense, the nature of Hamas’ military tactics, and the absence of genocidal intent or actions by Israel under international definitions.
Also, I present the moral conundrum which makes anti-Israeli's squirm:
If Israel is committing genocide, by withholding aid, or via aerial bombardment of areas hijacked by hamas death-cultists, or because through such bombardments civilians have died, then I'm afraid you need to call up your grandpa (Assuming you're from a country which fought in the second world war) and tell them they committed acts of genocide against the Germans. And if they didn't partake in any aerial campaign, they at least fought on a side which did. If that's something you're unwilling to admit, then you need to abandon your clearly flawed logic.
What should be argued, is that there needs to be a reorganization of international law which protects human life, but doesn't protect those who fight using asymmetrical warfare tactics like Hamas. Hamas knows there are idiots in the West who will scream and shout about genocide, genocide, genocide, and it knows that it can utilize civilian infrastructure, which it sees as a win-win situation. Either 1. Israel doesn't bomb civilian areas it is using and therefor its fighters don't die, or 2. its fighters die, but also civilians, so now it can send out a memo to Al Jazeera, or Al-Arabiya and before you know it, folks like NukeJelly are screaming Genocide, Genocide, hurting Israel's reputation further. Unfortunately, the war requires a realist approach, which will result in civilian casualties. The alternative is a war, and a world, in which terrorist organizations dictate the rules, right the outrage messages, and through time, eventually succeed because westerners simply don't have the stomach for realism.
NukeJelly supports what can be summed up as, weak warfare. It wasn't a regard for civilian or military infrastructure which won the war. Even though Germany at the very least didn't really utilize civilian structures the way Hamas does. No, the war was won because the German people lost the stomach for a conflict they were outmatched in, and neither the German army nor its people were offered any quarter. That's what won world war 2. NukeJelly, the second world war would've been much longer but for the nuclear weapons. I'm not arguing Israel should use its weapons in Dimona, however, overwhelming force will prevent Hamas from attacking again, not lying down and taking their rocket attacks. If that isn't allowed, then it will only be a matter of time until Hamas wins, because the Israeli people will lose their stomach, whilst the Palestinians (Who admit this), can wait years or generations because life is not just on this earth, but for all time, so who really cares about 76 years. That is who Israel is fighting, people who think in terms of centuries, not days. Kill the snake (Hamas) now, using realistic realist tactics, or wait another decade or two until Hamas gains the legitimacy and can fight Israel with better weapons, better numbers, and nation states behind them. Israel cannot, nor can it be expected to, take that, or wait for it.
"what's certain is that Israeli war crimes have been more frequent, more obvious and more brutal. Feel free to join, can't wait to debate!"
What's obvious is their propaganda has been more frequent allowing literal brain dead tik Tok zoomers to be easily persuaded.
I like how the term genocide was being used by Hamas prior to any defensive retaliatory actions, almost like they started the bullshit script too soon
I wonder what happened on October 7th that would make Israel want to attack Hamas. I guess it will always be a mystery