Israel and Gaza: Is It Genocide?
Re 'I'm a Scholar of Genocide. I Know It When I See It,' by Omer Bartov (Opinion guest essay, July 20):
The charge of genocide against Israel is a deeply serious one — and, in my view, a misapplication of the term. Genocide, by definition, requires intent to destroy an ethnic or national group. Israel's stated and demonstrated intent is to dismantle Hamas, a terrorist organization that murdered about 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, and continues to use civilians as shields.
Civilian casualties in Gaza are heartbreaking, and Israel must be held accountable for its conduct. But equating this war — however devastating — with genocide oversimplifies a tragic, complex conflict. Israel has issued warnings, created evacuation routes and urged civilians to flee. These are not the actions of a genocidal regime.
We can and must mourn innocent lives, advocate humanitarian aid and pursue peace. But we should also resist using terms that inflame rather than clarify. The world needs solutions rooted in truth, not accusations that blur moral and legal lines.
Seth EisenbergFort Lauderdale, Fla.
To the Editor:
I applaud Omer Bartov for having the courage to write his guest essay, making the case that what we are witnessing in Gaza is indeed genocide. While not an academic, I came to the same conclusion as Dr. Bartov but have been apprehensive about expressing my views publicly.
Having served with the United Nations in Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, I have seen ethnic cleansing and genocide firsthand on three continents. While the locales and situations are different, the hallmarks of these horrific acts are all the same. And what we are seeing in Gaza looks shockingly familiar to those who study this dark corner of history or who have witnessed it.
Like Dr. Bartov, based on my experience in United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world, I know genocide when I see it.
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