Draft:Extermination of Palestinians during the Israel–Hamas war

During the Israel–Hamas war, Israel committed the crime of extermination against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

_ _

Multiple United Nations investigations, draft International Criminal Court arrest warrants, and some legal experts accuse Israel of extermination.

Background
On 7 October 2023, Hamas and allied militants sparked the Israel–Hamas war by invading and attacking southern Israel, killing almost 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory actions have been interpreted as genocide by some, leading South Africa to institute proceedings at the International Court of Justice. The court ruled that the claim was plausible, but the case remains ongoing.

Legal definition
Extermination is a crime against humanity that consists of the intentional mass killing of civilians. While genocide is similar, extermination doesn't necessarily need intention to destroy a population. The exact definition of the crime is "...a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population".

Blockade and aid restrictions
Immediately following the Hamas attack, Israel imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip. Between 9 and 20 October, no humanitarian aid entered Gaza, including water, food, and electricity. Israel later loosened the blockade's restrictions on 21 October, though still blocked a significant amount of aid throughout the war. The restrictions were criticized as collective punishment, a war crime.

The blockade had high humanitarian repercussions. The restrictions on food and water contributed to the outbreak of the Gaza Strip famine. The lack of electricity into Gaza led to a healthcare collapse in the Strip.