Opinion: Israel's onslaught recalls horrors of Bosnian genocide

It was clear from the outset: the annihilation of Gaza unleashed by Israel, nominally in response to Hamas’s atrocities on 7 October, was genocidal in its intent, conduct and outcomes. 

To me, the key elements of genocide were apparent just weeks into Israel’s destructive campaign. Most international law experts I know were, at the time, still reluctant to qualify Israel’s actions as being in any way outside of its right to self-defence. 

Today, most of them have no such doubts. South Africa and a number of other countries have made a devastating case before the International Court of Justice that Israel’s crimes indeed constitute genocide, while top Israeli officials are facing possible prosecution at the International Criminal Court. 

My own assessments of the situation were informed not only by more than 25 years of experience working in various contexts where genocidal violence was suffered, but most importantly, by the fate of my own people.

READ MORE: Israel's onslaught recalls horrors of Bosnian genocide, opinion by Refik Hodzic