Israel’s Soul in Question Amid Gaza Genocide Accusations

UN premises, such as the WHO compound in Deir Al-Balah (pictured), have been struck during the Gaza conflict.

The dramatic story of Israel’s birth in 1948 following the Nazi Holocaust captured the wonder and admiration of the world. Its founders claimed Israel would be a light to the nations. But now, the Jewish state's identity has shifted — from being a victim of genocide to being accused of perpetrating one, in less than two generations.

Israel’s Likud government stands accused of genocide in Gaza by a UN special committee, the World Court’s acknowledgment that the claim is plausible, and recently by 28 nations acting together to declare Israel in violation of international humanitarian law.

What happened? Rather than confronting 75 years of injustice to Palestinians — which led to the deadly Hamas attacks in 2023 — most Israelis now support the ongoing military campaign in Gaza. After nearly two years of bombing, with over 100,000 casualties and no military resistance, famine has begun.

By contrast, the speech of Israel’s founding father David Ben Gurion on Israel’s Independence Day declared:

“The State of Israel will… foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex…”

Every observer can now see that Israel’s government has moved in the opposite direction. Critics argue it lost its soul — evolving into a state shaped by racial ideology, particularly the belief, attributed to Menachem Begin, that Jews are divinely superior. This ideology has led to suppression of Palestinians and, arguably, their attempted extermination — now evident in Gaza.

If the state exists for all its inhabitants, why did former U.S. President Jimmy Carter write a book titled Peace, Not Apartheid? Why are Israeli Arabs second-class citizens? Why do Palestinians displaced in 1948 and 1967 still live in refugee camps, with nearly six million still classified as refugees?

Why has the Israeli military — under its decades-long occupation of Palestine — killed, imprisoned, and displaced thousands, destroyed homes, razed streets, and confined neighborhoods behind concrete walls? Why has it bombed nearly 1,000 mosques in Gaza, as well as churches and a Christian hospital?

Zionists may argue that Palestinians under military rule are not Israeli citizens. But under international law, the occupying power bears responsibility for the population — including those in Gaza and the West Bank.

Though some areas are nominally administered by Palestinians, no one truly believes they are free or independent. The occupied territories and their residents remain under Israel's effective control.

Israel’s commitment to the UN Charter is questionable. Despite being created by the UN, Israeli governments have long rejected any limitation on their expansionist and military ambitions.

Recent examples include:

The June 2025 joint Israeli–U.S. airstrikes on Iran, a UN member state.

The targeting of UN agencies, schools, and food distribution centers in Gaza.

Raphael Lemkin, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, coined the term genocide and fought to enshrine it in international law. The Genocide Convention, ratified by the UN in 1948, is now allegedly being violated by Israel in Gaza.

Genocide is defined as killing or setting conditions for the destruction of a group based solely on identity — including expulsion, transfers, or public incitement. These actions, observers note, have been publicly endorsed by leaders like Netanyahu, Trump, and Galant.

In January 2024, the International Court of Justice, including Israeli ad hoc Judge Aharon Barak, called for punishment of those advocating population expulsion from Gaza.

What responsibility do Israeli citizens bear? Legally, they share corporate responsibility — though individual guilt applies only if they vote for or advocate genocidal actions. The few opposition voices in Israel deserve praise for their courage.

What about American citizens? The U.S. has supported Israel militarily and diplomatically for decades. Citizens must now raise their voices to prevent famine from killing more children in Gaza — or be judged as complicit in what may become known as genocide.

James E. Jennings, PhD, is President of Conscience International and has led U.S. Academics for Peace delegations to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, and elsewhere. He has taught Middle East history, archaeology, and religion at multiple U.S. universities.