B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights publish new reports accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, making them the first major Israeli human rights organizations to do so.

“An examination of Israel’s policy in the Gaza Strip and its horrific outcomes, together with statements by senior Israeli politicians and military commanders about the goals of the attack, leads to the unequivocal conclusion that Israel is taking coordinated, deliberate action to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip,” reads a statement on the report by B’Tselem. “In other words: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. ”

Physicians for Human Rights says its report also describes “a deliberate, cumulative dismantling of Gaza’s health system, and with it, its people’s ability to survive. This amounts to genocide.”

At a press conference in East Jerusalem, Orly Noy, chair of B’Tselem’s executive board, says: “This crime must be stopped immediately. The responsibility lies first and foremost with Israel, but also with the international community, which must use every means to stop the crimes that are still taking place just 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) from here.”

Yuli Novak, executive director of B’Tselem, says: “The definition of genocide is a coordinated attack with the intent to destroy a group. For the past 22 months, we have witnessed unprecedented destruction of civilians, deliberate starvation, and mass forced displacement. Gaza’s residents are displaced, bombed, and starved, stripped entirely of their humanity and rights.”

Israel has not responded to the report but has repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide, saying it takes steps to mitigate harm to civilians and accusing Hamas of embedding itself in civilian infrastructure including schools and hospitals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed allegations that Israel is pursuing a deliberate policy of starving Gaza’s civilian population.