The study of Holocaust and genocide faces a crisis as Israel stands accused of committing “the crime of crimes.” In response to Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, major institutions such as the University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum issued statements condemning violence against civilians. However, as Israel launched a brutal bombing campaign against Gaza, cutting off food, fuel, and water, some scholars argued that Israel was committing genocide.
Historian Raz Segal wrote in an article that Israel’s actions were “explicit, open, and unashamed” intent to commit genocide. He organized a letter signed by 60 Holocaust and genocide scholars warning of the need for concerted action to prevent genocide. Despite this, many institutions remained silent as South Africa argued before the International Court of Justice that Israel was committing genocide.
Nimer Sultany, a scholar of international law, points out a double standard in how scholars treat Israel and Palestine. He claims that while some rush to imply that Palestinians have committed acts reminiscent of genocide, they are unwilling or unable to make the same charge against Israel, despite Israel’s history of atrocities against Palestinians.
The silence of many institutions has raised concerns about the legitimacy of genocide studies. It appears that early use of the term “genocide” was more propaganda than a genuine concern for human rights. The crisis in Holocaust and genocide studies highlights the need for scholars to be consistent in their condemnation of violence and human rights abuses, regardless of the perpetrator’s identity or motivations.
Source: https://jewishcurrents.org/can-genocide-studies-survive-a-genocide-in-gaza