Palestinian lawyer claims Israeli attacks on women constitute genocide

Palestinian lawyer Ahmad Ibsais has publicly asserted that Israeli military operations targeting women in Gaza constitute genocide, a claim he says is ignored by the international legal community. In a statement released on Tuesday, Ibsais argued that the systematic attacks on women’s shelters, hospitals, and residential areas meet the criteria set out in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

Ibsais cited evidence from satellite imagery, eyewitness reports and medical records to support his claim that the violence is directed specifically at women and girls, and that the Israeli Defense Forces have repeatedly used heavy artillery and airstrikes in densely populated zones where women are disproportionately affected. He further contended that the United Nations and other international bodies have failed to recognize these acts as genocide, thereby allowing the continuation of what he describes as a “systematic campaign” against Palestinian women. The lawyer called for an urgent international investigation and for the application of existing genocide protocols to hold perpetrators accountable.

The assertion has drawn both support and criticism from human‑rights observers. While some legal experts argue that the definition of genocide requires proof of intent, others point to the severity of the documented attacks as indicative of a broader policy. The Israeli government has denied the allegations, stating that its operations target Hamas militants and that civilian casualties are unintended. The debate underscores the growing tension over how international law interprets and responds to alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.