The US and Europe are “enabling” genocide in Gaza.

That's according to two major Israel-based human rights organizations.

"The International Court of Justice has decided on a series of measures to prevent genocide from being committed. Israel must follow these measures, as the government has stated many times," writes Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard in an email to Aftonbladet.

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The two leading Israeli organizations B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights each released a report on Monday that states that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, reports The Guardian.

“What we are seeing is a clear, deliberate attack on civilians to wipe out a group. I think every person has to ask themselves: What do you do when you are faced with genocide?” says Yuli Novak, head of the organization B’Tselem.

The organizations accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza – “simply because of their Palestinian identity.” The reports describe how tens of thousands of women, children and the elderly have been killed, how people have been displaced and famine has spread. They also highlight the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and the lack of healthcare and education.

Physicians for Human Rights focuses in its report on the systematic attack on healthcare in Gaza. According to them, the attacks constitute genocide under Article 2c of the Genocide Convention. They warn that the destruction of the healthcare system will have deadly consequences even after a possible ceasefire comes into effect.

“For example, there have been no MRIs in Gaza for months. So what happens to all the diseases and conditions that have not been diagnosed during that time? Add to that malnutrition and untreated chronic diseases. The effects will be felt for months and years to come,” says Guy Shalev, director of PHR.

Yuli Novak believes that it is important to establish that a genocide is taking place, even without a verdict from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Genocide is not just a legal crime. It is a political and social phenomenon,” she says.

Criticism of the West

They also say that Israel's Western allies are enabling the genocidal campaign and bear some responsibility for the suffering in Gaza. Now they are calling on the world to use"every tool in the toolbox" to end the killing.

– This could not happen without the support of the Western world. Every single leader who does not do everything to stop this is part of this terrible thing, says Yuli Novak.

B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights have documented the violence in the region for decades. Others have previously reached the same conclusion, but with two of Israel’s most respected organizations now involved, the pressure on the government is expected to increase further, the newspaper writes.

In an email to Aftonbladet, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard comments on the situation in Gaza:

"The EU and Sweden have been, and continue to be, clear that Israel must respect the rules of international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians. Blocking food and other humanitarian assistance to civilians is indefensible and in violation of humanitarian law. Using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime."

Israel rejects the accusations and describes the war as self-defense following Hamas' deadly attack on October 7, 2023.