Editors of the English-language edition of Wikipedia have renamed an article on the Gaza conflict to explicitly accuse Israel of committing genocide.
Previously titled “Allegations of genocide in the 2023 Israeli attack on Gaza,” the article was changed on 25 July to “Gaza genocide.” This shift in wording comes as Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
South Africa brought the case against Israel to the UN’s highest court in December, leading the tribunal to order interim measures while the proceedings continue. Several other nations have since joined South Africa’s case.
In May, the ICJ ordered Israel to cease its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a directive Tel Aviv has not adhered to.
Meanwhile, Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), another tribunal, requested arrest warrants in May for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Khan also sought warrants for Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh—the latter of whom was killed in Tehran at the end of last month, allegedly by Israeli forces.
While Khan did not charge any party with genocide, he did accuse both Israeli and Hamas leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Following Haniyeh’s death, Hamas appointed Sinwar as the new head of its political bureau.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 39,699 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry, with over 90,000 others injured.
The conflict has seen hospitals, ambulances, and residential buildings targeted, leaving Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins. A siege has also been imposed on the region, pushing the Palestinian territory to the brink of famine.
