The Genocide Accusation Against Israel: A Scholarly Exchange

Omer Bartov will explain when and why he concluded that Israel was perpetrating genocide in Gaza, examine the deeper causes of events in Gaza and the West Bank, ponder the question of Israel’s appearance of impunity, and consider the possible long-term effects of events since October 7.

Norman J.W. Goda will discuss genocide accusations against Israel from historical, political, and legal perspectives. He will argue that the accusations as they relate to the war in Gaza should be examined from a more empirical perspective than has often been the case.

A series exploring an idea used to convey the magnitude of the Holocaust that has now become newly charged and profoundly contentious.

Although its legal definition differs somewhat from its role in popular discourse, the word “genocide” as used today is understood as the "crime of all crimes," the gravest assault against human life and identity. For many years, the word was closely associated with the Holocaust, the Nazi campaign to exterminate the Jews. Many now accuse the state of Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians.

Despite its pervasiveness in public discourse, the concept of genocide is relatively new. It did not enter international law until 1948. Moreover, scholars are divided regarding its legal definition and applications. This lecture series examines genocide as both a legal concept and a historical phenomenon. Over five lectures, leading scholars will investigate: What is the concept of genocide? How did the Holocaust and state power define its postwar emergence? And how have recent debates amid Israel's war in Gaza redefined scholars' understanding of the limits and advantages of the genocide concept? Please join us for an important and pressing discussion.

Speakers

Omer Bartov is an Israeli-American scholar and Dean’s Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. He has written widely on war crimes, interethnic relations, and genocide. Recent books, published in multiple languages, include Anatomy of a Genocide: The Life and Death of a Town Called Buczacz (2018), which won the National Jewish Book Award, and Genocide, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine: First-Person History in Times of Crisis (2023), named Choice 2024 Outstanding Academic Title. Bartov’s essays and commentaries have been widely featured in national and international magazines and media outlets. His new book, Israel: What Went Wrong? will be published in April 2026 by FSG in the U.S. and Penguin/Random Books in the U.K.

Norman J. W. Goda is the Norman and Irma Braman Professor of Holocaust Studies at the University of Florida. He specializes in the Holocaust, Holocaust memory, and Holocaust justice. His books include Tales from Spandau: Nazi Criminals and the Cold War (2007); The Holocaust: Europe, the World, and the Jews (2022); Rethinking Holocaust Justice: Essays Across Disciplines (2018) and Outside Looking In: The World Universalizes the Holocaust(2026).

This event is cosponsored by Perry World House. The Katz Center gratefully acknowledges the support of the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation.

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