Gaza on Fire: Israel Faces Global Condemnation for Waging “War of Annihilation”

Gaza City | June 30, 2025 — As the war enters its ninth month, international outrage continues to mount over Israel’s relentless military campaign in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead, flattened entire neighborhoods, and crippled all basic services. Human rights organizations, UN officials, and multiple governments now openly accuse Israel of pursuing a campaign that amounts to genocide.

A War Without Restraint

Israel’s massive bombardment—targeting homes, refugee camps, schools, and even hospitals—has devastated the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 56,000 deaths, more than half of them women and children, with thousands more buried under rubble.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese recently described the assault as a “war of extermination”, saying in a speech to the Human Rights Council:

“Israel’s actions in Gaza are not defensive—they are punitive and disproportionate. This is not warfare; it is annihilation.”

Starvation as a Weapon

Beyond bombs, Israel is accused of weaponizing starvation. According to UNICEF and the World Food Programme, 1 in 3 children in Gaza are acutely malnourished. Entire water systems have been destroyed. Aid convoys are routinely targeted or delayed by Israeli airstrikes or military barriers.

A recent UN inquiry (June 2025) stated that Israel’s blockade and siege tactics violate Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which defines “extermination” and “starvation of civilians” as crimes against humanity.

Systematic Destruction of Civilian Life

Israeli warplanes have bombed:

• Residential towers in central and northern Gaza
• Displacement camps like Rafah and Khan Younis
• UNRWA shelters and ambulances
• Water treatment plants and bakeries
• Journalists, doctors, and rescue teams on duty

Even Gaza’s only functional hospital system has collapsed, with Israel refusing to allow fuel and surgical supplies to enter.

International Legal Action Building

In a historic step, South Africa, Bolivia, and several OIC nations have submitted formal charges against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging genocide. Hearings are underway, and evidence includes satellite imagery, intercepted military orders, and thousands of civilian testimonies.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also investigating top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Eli Barak, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and multiple IDF generals, for possible war crimes.

A joint letter by over 1,000 international legal scholars from Harvard, Oxford, and the Sorbonne stated:

“Israel’s military doctrine in Gaza constitutes a gross violation of international humanitarian law. Collective punishment, targeting of civilians, and deliberate deprivation of essential life systems is genocidal in nature.”

Media Blackouts and Propaganda

Israel has severely restricted international media access to Gaza while controlling much of the narrative through military briefings. Journalists attempting to report from Gaza have been detained, and Palestinian reporters have been killed in strikes.

As of June 2025, over 150 journalists have died in Gaza—the highest wartime toll for media workers in modern history. Reporters Without Borders has filed a war crimes complaint at the ICC.

Global Protests and Political Fallout

• Millions have marched in London, Berlin, Istanbul, Jakarta, and New York, demanding an immediate end to the assault and an arms embargo on Israel.
• Latin American countries like Colombia, Chile, and Brazil have suspended diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.
• UN General Assembly resolutions passed in April and June with overwhelming support, calling Israel’s actions a “gross violation of human rights and the UN Charter.”

Even within Israel, a minority of voices—academics, dissident soldiers, and human rights groups—have begun speaking out, accusing their government of “moral collapse” and “ethnic cleansing.”

🔴 A Human Catastrophe Unfolding

This is not simply a war between Israel and Hamas. It is a total war against an imprisoned population, where civilians are systematically targeted, starved, and stripped of all hope. The world is watching what many now believe is the first televised genocide of the 21st century.

By: Global Justice Desk | Digital World News
Sources: UNHRC, Amnesty International, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Human Rights Watch, ICRC, ICC filings