In a powerful open letter, over 500 prominent genocide scholars, Holocaust experts, former war crimes prosecutors, and descendants of survivors have united to urge the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) to retract its recent resolution accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Titled "Scholars for Truth about Genocide," the statement highlights critical flaws in the IAGS decision, arguing it misapplies international law, ignores historical context, and undermines the integrity of genocide studies.
The controversy stems from the IAGS resolution passed in 2025, which labeled Israel's military actions in Gaza as genocidal. With only 129 out of over 500 members voting—107 in favor—the process raised alarms. Signatories note broken promises of town halls and publication of dissenting views, describing the suppression of debate as "an alarming tactic" on such a divisive issue.
Genocide, the letter emphasizes, is humanity's gravest crime. Diluting its definition for ideological reasons constitutes "moral violence," dishonoring past victims like those of the Holocaust and hindering prevention of future atrocities. The statement firmly asserts that Hamas, not Israel, meets the legal threshold for genocide. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an invasion of Israel with explicit intent to destroy Jews and Israelis as a group, committing mass murder, rape, and taking hostages—actions continuing to this day.
While acknowledging the tragic civilian toll in Gaza, the scholars attribute many deaths to Hamas's tactics, including systematic human shielding. Hamas embeds military operations in hospitals, schools, mosques, and homes, a war crime that strips these sites of protected status under the Geneva Conventions (Articles 19 and 28 of the Fourth Convention; Article 51(7) of Additional Protocol I). Hamas leaders have admitted this strategy, even warning civilians against evacuating, endangering Palestinians to shield fighters.
The IAGS resolution, critics argue, wrongly blames all casualties on Israel, excusing Hamas's agency. It claims "indiscriminate and deliberate attacks" on civilian infrastructure without addressing Hamas's weaponization of these sites. Casualty figures from Palestinian sources (63,557 deaths, 160,660 injuries as of the statement) include combatants and Hamas-induced deaths, with children comprising 22% of casualties, far below their 50% share of Gaza's population, complicating claims of targeting a "substantial part" of the group.
The resolution misrepresents court rulings. It cites ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant but omits the Pre-Trial Chamber's rejection of extermination charges (a lower-threshold crime) due to insufficient evidence. Similarly, it distorts the ICJ's provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel, which found plausible rights under the Genocide Convention for Palestinians but not plausible genocide, clarified by former ICJ President Joan Donoghue.
Signatories reject "broadened" genocide definitions used by groups like B'Tselem, which lower intent from dolus specialis (specific intent to destroy) to dolus eventualis (foreseeable harm). ICJ jurisprudence (Bosnia v. Serbia, 2007) requires conclusive proof of specific intent, with no alternative explanations. In Gaza, Israel's actions align with self-defense against Hamas's tunnels, booby-traps, and hostage-holding, not genocidal intent.
Israel's harm-minimization efforts, tightened proportionality rules, warnings, and independent reviews by non-Israelis, are ignored. The war could end immediately if Hamas released hostages and surrendered, a point the IAGS omits.
Leading the call is Elliot Malin, Chairperson of Nevada's Holocaust Education Council, alongside figures like Eli Rosenbaum (former DOJ war crimes director), Jeffrey Mausner (ex-Nazi prosecutor), and historians like Norman Goda and Benny Morris. Over 500 signatories, including professors from Harvard, Cornell, and Tel Aviv University, represent diverse expertise in law, history, and antisemitism studies.
Persisting with the resolution, the letter warns, reduces IAGS to a "farce," eroding genocide scholarship. It betrays the UN's 1946 affirmation that genocide "shocks the conscience of mankind." The scholars demand immediate retraction to uphold legal standards and honor victims.
The letter opened for signatures on September 5, 2025, and closed on September 8, 2025. It reflects personal views, not institutional positions.
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