Is this genocide? Criticism of the Israeli army is growing as they prepare to enter the city where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering.
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Gaza cowers as Israel plans 'total victory'
Is this genocide? Criticism of the Israeli army is growing as they prepare to enter the city where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering.
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What's happening?
More than 1.5 million PalestiniansPeople from Palestine, an area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia. are living in camps in the city of Rafah, in southern GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. . Many of them are children, and they do not have enough food to eat.
They were told Rafah would be a "safe zone", but now IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.'s army may be about to enter the city.
Israel's war on Hamas began after the attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 OctoberOn 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 200 hostages. last year - although the two sides have been fighting for many years.
Last month, South AfricaA country at the southern tip of Africa. It is home to nearly 60 million people. accused Israel of a genocideThe annihilation of a people, either through killing of its members, or through the suppression of its culture. against the Palestinian people. They argued that civiliansPeople who are not in the army or the police. in Gaza have been hurt on purpose.
Genocide is about what happened - but it is also about why events happened. It is hard to prove that a nation or army deliberatelyOn purpose. tried or is trying to destroy a religious or ethnic group.
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Israel denies the accusations, and says it is only trying to defend itself after the 7 October attacks.
Last month, a court ordered Israel to do all that it could to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and make sure that people get the help they need to survive.
Is this genocide?
Yes! Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and many, many more have been forced to leave their homes.
No! War is always violent, but Israel has the right to defend itself. Hamas started the war with the 7 October attacks.
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Keywords
Palestinians - People from Palestine, an area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
7 October - On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
South Africa - A country at the southern tip of Africa. It is home to nearly 60 million people.
Genocide - The annihilation of a people, either through killing of its members, or through the suppression of its culture.
Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.
Deliberately - On purpose.
Gaza cowers as Israel plans ‘total victory’
No home left: Close to 80% of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war. Glossary
Palestinians - People from Palestine, an area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
7 October - On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
South Africa - A country at the southern tip of Africa. It is home to nearly 60 million people.
Genocide - The annihilation of a people, either through killing of its members, or through the suppression of its culture.
Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.
Deliberately - On purpose.