Yuli Novak, Executive Director of the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, has leveled serious accusations regarding the conduct of the ongoing military operations.
In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Novak stated that B’Tselem has concluded that Israel is perpetrating genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. She emphasized the urgency of intervention, arguing that legal determinations often arrive too late to protect vulnerable populations.
These allegations are detailed in a recently published B’Tselem report titled “Our Genocide” which asserts that the Israeli government is committing acts of genocide in Gaza. The organization bases its assessment on gathered information and eyewitness accounts, citing the targeted and systematic killings of Palestinians, the destruction of their means of livelihood and evidence suggesting an intent to eliminate the population. Novak maintains that the existential threat felt following the October 7th Hamas attack served as the catalyst for these actions and that this condition persists.
Novak also directed significant criticism towards international policy, alleging that Germany and other European states are effectively supporting Israel’s actions. While acknowledging the complexities of German-Israeli relations, she argues that the reality of the situation can no longer be ignored, stating that “the descendants of those who suffered the paradigmatic genocide perpetrated by Germany are now themselves committing one”.
