Two ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu's government have clearly called for genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, the term “genocide” is not sufficient to describe the measures recommended by these ministers. Your statements are extremely embarrassing for Netanyahu. These ministers were certainly contradicted by other ministers, but they should have been fired because their statements are serious and because they can justify condemning Israel for genocide, in line with the United Nations' definition of this crime. Because in such a crime it is difficult to prove genocidal intent. However, the two ministers have actually announced such an intention. Her comments were condemned by several countries, including France and the United States. But the matter is more serious than these convictions suggest.
1) What is the definition of genocide according to the UN?
According to the UN website, “genocide means any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such: a. murder of group members; B. Serious attacks on the physical or mental integrity of group members; vs. deliberate subjection of the group to conditions of existence aimed at bringing about its total or partial physical destruction; […]”.
The Israeli government's actions clearly meet the first three acts of the definition. However, these measures can be justified in the context of war. It is the desire to destroy the Palestinians in whole or in part that would bring this war under the definition of genocide. However, two of Netanyahu's ministers have just expressed this wish.
2) What did the Israeli ministers declare?
Finance Minister Bazael Smotrich and Interior Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Gazans a few days ago to leave the region so that the Israelis could replace them. Netanyahu himself did not respond to these statements, but two other of his ministers strongly condemned them.
3) Why did Netanyahu react so little?
It is very likely that Netanyahu shares the views of his two hardline ministers. It was he who caused the Oslo Accords to fail. Under his leadership, the West Bank continued to be divided into several areas subject to Jewish colonization. Most Israeli army leaders reject this genocidal vision. In this regard, it is not surprising that the Minister of Defense proposed a post-war plan that envisages maintaining the population of the Gaza Strip. The plan was not approved by the cabinet.
4) Is the Israeli government conducting secret negotiations to expel Palestinians?
A rumor that the Israeli government is negotiating with certain countries, particularly Congo, over the deportation of Gaza's population has been denied by an Israeli government spokesman.
5) What is Canada doing?
Justin Trudeau is on vacation, so the Canadian government is on vacation too. But since Trudeau makes his decisions on this issue by trying to guide himself by public opinion and not by trying to judge the situation on its merits, this absence will make no difference. This is actually a good thing because it prevents him from repeating banalities or, worse, taking the wrong side.