The Gaza genocide is the ongoing, intentional, and systematic destruction of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip carried out by Israel. It encompasses mass killings, the deliberate killing of children (making up 30% or more of those killed), deliberate starvation, infliction of serious bodily and mental harm, and prevention of births. Other acts include blockading, destroying civilian infrastructure, destroying healthcare facilities, killing healthcare workers and aid-seekers, causing mass forced displacement, committing sexual violence, and destroying educational, religious, and cultural sites.

International Recognition

The genocide has been recognized by a United Nations special committee and commission of inquiry, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, multiple human rights groups, state governments, numerous genocide studies and international law scholars, and other experts.

Mass Murder

As of December 2025, more than 70,000 people in Gaza had been killed. The vast majority of the victims were civilians, and around 50% were women and children. Compared to other recent global conflicts, the numbers of known deaths of journalists, humanitarian and health workers, and children are among the highest.

Buried Alive and Uncounted

Thousands more uncounted bodies are thought to be under the rubble of destroyed buildings. A study in the medical journal The Lancet estimated that traumatic injury deaths were undercounted by June 2024, while noting an even larger potential death toll with indirect deaths included. The number of injured is greater than 171,000.

Children Targeted

Gaza has the most child amputees per capita in the world; the Gaza war caused more than 21,000 children to be disabled. In July 2025, 18,457 children were listed among the war dead by health authorities in Gaza, excluding indirect deaths and those buried under rubble.

Starvation Policy

An Israeli blockade heavily contributed to starvation and confirmed famine. In August 2025, about 641,000 people experienced catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Early in the conflict, Israel cut off Gaza’s water and electricity. It later partially restored the water. As of May 2024, 84% of Gaza’s health centers have been destroyed or damaged.

Cultural Annihilation

Israel also destroyed numerous cultural heritage sites, including all 12 of Gaza’s universities, and 80% of its schools.

Ethnic Cleansing

Over 1.9 million Palestinians–85% of Gaza’s population–were forcibly displaced.

Environmental Contamination

Israel’s bombing also caused severe environmental devastation across the territory.