🧵A long thread worth your time to debunk Israel genocide in Gaza. Claims of genocide often rely on analysis by Raz Segal as an "expert” on genocide. Analysis of his work and a group of recycled quotes by Israeli officials, now used by the media, shows it's all fabrication. 1/
Notably, Segal published his claim on Oct 13 only days after Hamas atrocities with <2,000 Gazan deaths. Segal already decided he was going to charge Israel with genocide before the bodies were all pulled from Be'eri. His arguments are easily debunked. 2/ jewishcurrents.org/a-textbook-cas…
On Nov 20 Segal spoke with Owen Jones making the same case for "textbook" genocide but ALL his "evidence" of genocidal intent by Israel is falsified or misrepresented, blatant academic dishonestly. Both the article & video interview will be debunked. 3/
Segal notes in his article that claiming genocide requires proving "intent" and says Israel has "loudly proclaimed intent" to destroy the Palestinians. Without proving such intent claims of genocide totally fall apart. So this is the absolute critical first step for Segal. 4/
In the video Segal adds that to prove genocide requires “special intent” which is a “high threshold” and it is “usually very difficult to prove intent.” But Segal flouts this high threshold mandate of evidence instead relying on fabricated evidence to prove intent. 5/
Segal's first & ONLY evidence from an Israeli official for his Oct 13 article is a statement by Gallant calling for a siege and claiming Israel is fighting “human animals.” As Segal consistently does, he dishonestly attributes references to Hamas as to all "Palestinians." 6/
Importantly, sieges are legal under int’l law and do not indicate intent of genocide as Segal implies, see below from Red Cross. Sieges are illegal if intended to starve the population but on their own do not prove intent. So this is not evidence Gallant "intends" genocide. 7/
Segal cites again in video Gallant’s “human animals” claiming he referred to Pals but Gallant does not say this. Segal ignores many statements by Gallant that Pals are not a target only Hamas is. Omitting this is academic dishonesty. Here is example from Gallant from Oct 29. 8/
On Oct 13, same day Segal claimed Gallant “intends" genocide Reuters reported Gallant said Israel is waging war on “Hamas militants” and said Palestinian civilians should move south to save their lives. Segal willfully omits this since it contradicts his core evidence. 9/
The ONLY other evidence to prove “intent” in Segal's Oct 13 article is an “interviewee” on TV (a former MK from 2015) some random Israelis & social media posts & banner. It’s inane to claim this supports “textbook” evidence that Israel “intends” to kill all Palestinians. 10/
So we know based on Segal’s Oct 13 article, before much even happened, that Segal was going to say genocide no matter what. ALL he shows to prove intent on Oct 13 is ONE misrepresented statement from Gallant & random Israelis. Does this meet “high threshold” of proof? NO. 11/
Segal offers no proof in Nov 20 video. He says genocidal “intent is so clearly articulated” & cites examples. His FIRST evidence is claim that Herzog said all Pals in Gaza are responsible. But Segal omits that Herzog made clear this is not the case in same press event! 12/
Herzog also has a wide body of statements over many weeks making clear Israel is not at war with Pals, just Hamas, like in this CBS interview. There are many examples. Herzog is simply not evidence of an Israel leader “intending” Palestinian genocide -- unless you lie. 13/
Segal’s SECOND evidence “proving” intent to genocide is that Netanyahu “promised to turn Gaza into rubble” (video 6:37) but Segal egregiously lies as Bibi specifically said only HAMAS locations would be turned into rubble NOT Gaza. Here is a Reuters report: 14/
Segal's THIRD evidence is Netanyahu’s mention of Amalek which again is not "high threshold" evidence that he means to kill all Palestinians. Amalek is used metaphorically in Jewish history & study to refer to mortal enemies of the Jews -- in this case Hamas. 15/
Here is an Oct 30 piece from the WSJ explaining its use. It certainly may be the case that other people in the past have used the Amalek metaphor to refer to Palestinians. This certainly does not therefore prove that is what Bibi meant. 16/
But even better evidence: in the SAME press conference where Bibi mentioned Amalek he specifically noted the war aims are clear: “destruction of Hamas” and Hamas is the "evil." But Segal & others deliberately misrepresent claiming Bibi meant ALL Pals. Academic dishonesty. 17/
Segal next claims Naftali Bennet referred to Palestinians as Nazis (Segal interview 10:00). But Bennet says specifically of Pal civilians that “we don’t target them” and said “Hamas, Nazi Hamas”. (Sky News at 1:58). So another blatant lie by Segal. 18/ news.sky.com/video/israel-h…
Segal in the end offers zero evidence of intent. EVERY example cited is falsified or misrepresented. Not the “high threshold” proof he says is necessary. If intent it so clear why so many fabrications? Of course he dishonestly omits 100s of statements showing NO intent. 19/
For example Leading Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy who is on TV every day has continually said the same thing: the war is against Hamas NOT Palestinians. So the “intent” charge has to deliberately ignore all this, and same comments from many other Israeli leaders. 20/
Segal can't cite official policy documents, IDF battle plans or Knesset bills calling for the deliberate murder of Palestinian civilian like the Nazi Wannsee Conference. For Israel, random falsified quote snippets while ignoring everything else said is “textbook genocide” 21/
Of course nothing contradicting case for genocide is ever mentioned. Like Israel evacuating ~1 million Gazans from the north. Why do this, losing weeks of the element of surprise, why risk IDF troops on ground, if genocide intent "so clear" why not just bomb them all? 22/
Segal & all these quotes on Amalek, human animals, rubble, Nazis – which ALL refer to Hamas but are falsely claimed to refer to Palestinians -- are now recycled by certain media (@mehdirhasan ) & others as "proof" of genocide. Part of the industry of lies to demonize Israel. 23/
Actual evidence will never convince rabid Israel haters & antisemites who see Jews as bloodthirsty and hate that Hamas' won't exist anymore. Segal clearly made up his mind even before the war got going. Like Kirby says people can say what they want. END
🧵Gazan terrorists film themselves committing FOUR unique war crimes per Geneva, see below for detail. They are proud and the world continues to give them a free pass, hardly any criticism. They are also granted permanent immunity because they are hiding among civilians. 1/
ONE: They violate Protocol I Article 58 as they have a duty not to locate "military objectives within or near densely populated areas." Of course this makes them more vulnerable to IDF attacks, but does not absolve them of the war crime. 2/
TWO: They violate Protocol I Article 48, as their attacks must be directed against military objectives. Firing rockets at Israeli cities is a war crime. 3/
🧵A common Gaza narrative is that Israel is too reckless, allowing more civilian deaths and attacks in urban areas than the more careful US. This is false. Many of the 112,000 strikes by US in Syria were ordered by low-ranking commandos who “sidestepped safeguards.” Analysis: 1/
Detailed @nytimes report describes how 20 low-ranking commandos ordered 10s of 1000s of strikes from 2014-19, "repeatedly killed civilians” with “loose interpretation of the military’s rules of engagement.” This is "forgotten" when comparing to Israel: 2/ nytimes.com/2021/12/12/us/…
A unit called Talon Anvil “circumvented rules imposed to protect noncombatants” killing “farmers, children, families and villagers.” Yet so many sit on their high horse moralizing to Israel with 10,000 terorrists literally a few kms, claiming the US did not act like Israel. 3/
🧵Israel's use of 2,000-pound bombs is often cited as "evidence" of indiscriminate attacks or genocide, that the US is far more careful, rarely uses these bombs in urban areas. This is totally false. US has dropped 1000s of them in urban areas and for minor targets. Analysis: 1/
First the 2003 Iraq war; see official US data from Mar 19-Apr 18, 2003, 1 month of action in many cities. Red are 2,000 lb bombs, blue 5,000 lb. US dropped 5,460 2,000 lb bombs. I guess this is “not that often.” All articles citing US and 2000lb bombs always omits this data. 2/
US relied on 2,000 lb bombs in Afghanistan. Data of 26,000 bombs dropped from 2014-21 bombs does not break out by type but military journals note 2,000 lb bombs are among “most commonly” used and there are many examples of their use for minor targets killing many civilians: 3/
🧵US & world is on their high horse of moral self-righteousness about Israel’s precise strike on senior terrorists in Rafah that set fire that killed many civilians. Here are 10 major incidents of civilian deaths by US & allied action, accepted as mistakes; but not for Israel 1/
US bombed a hospital in Kunduz Afghanistan in 2015 that killed more than 40 civilians including 14 hospital staff. The AC-130 gunship then fired on survivors fleeing the wreckage. 2/
US aristrike killed 40 Afghan civilians in a wedding party in Wech Bakhtu. US spokesperson blamed the Taliban for using “human shields.” Somehow, Israel does not quite get the same understanding. 3/
🧵Four ICJ judges have made clear the Rafah clause does NOT mean Israel must halt military action in Rafah. Israel can do so as long as it does not commit genocide, which Israel already agrees to and the court has not ruled on. See statements from the four judges: 1/
Ugandan judge and court VP Sebutinde voted against the Rafah clause, but she made clear the clause did not mean Israel could not act in Rafah, only that it could not commit genocide while doing so. 2/
Romanian Judge Aurescu, who voted in favor of the Rafah clause, also agrees that the order does not require Israel to end operations in Rafah, but only “to the extent” that they would be considered Genocide. So again, Israel can act in Rafah, just not if it is genocide. 3/
🧵KEY FINDING FROM HAMAS FATALITY LIST: One identified "child" fatality on UN affirmed list was killed by Hamas. Hamas Ministry of Health lists 18-year old Ahmed Burika as fatality but reports and open source info show Hamas murdered him on Dec 24, 2023. Details & evidence: 1/
This news report documents killing of Burika (apparently a prominent family in Rafah) by Hamas police while trying to access aid. The family expressed outrage and burned tires outside police station. This has been corroborated by Palestinian sources. 2/ i24news.tv/en/news/israel…
This video shows the lifeless body of Burika and further actions of violence by Hamas. 3/