Genocidal intent in armed conflict: The case of Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

International Law Breakfast Briefing with Vito Todeschini, legal advisor at Amnesty International.

In December 2024, Amnesty International published a report which concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the context of its military offensive on the occupied Gaza Strip, which started on 7 October 2023. In a recent briefing published in November 2025, the organization concluded that, more than a month after a ceasefire had been announced and all living Israeli hostages had been released, Israeli authorities were still committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Amnesty International's investigations specifically looked into patterns of conduct indicative of genocidal intent, including: repeated direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects and deliberately indiscriminate strikes; the large-scale damage and destruction of critical infrastructure and other objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population; repeated waves of mass forced displacement in unsafe and inhumane conditions; and the obstruction of, or restrictions on, the entry and delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services in Gaza. It further analysed direct evidence of Israel’s genocidal intent through the statements of Israeli government and military officials with direct responsibilities over the management of the offensive on Gaza.

This breakfast briefing will discuss Amnesty International's factual findings in light of the international legal framework on genocide, including the Genocide Convention and the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It will also look at the challenges and opportunities arising out of pending contentious cases before the ICJ, particularly 'The Gambia v. Myanmar and South Africa v. Israel' cases.

Bio

Vito Todeschini (PhD, Aarhus University) is a Legal Advisor at Amnesty International, where he focuses on international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international human rights law and issues related to international justice and accountability.

About the series

The International Law Breakfast Briefings offer a regular opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and students with an interest in international law to meet, exchange views, and share research findings on current issues in the field.

Format: Each session features a presentation of approximately 20-25 minutes, followed by a discussion. Unless otherwise specified, both the presentation and discussion will be conducted in English. Coffee and croissants will be available for all registered participants attending in person.

Researchers – including PhD students – and practitioners working in the field of international law who are interested in presenting at one of our upcoming sessions in the fall series are warmly invited to contact cornelius.wiesener@jur.ku.dk or astrid.kjeldgaard-pedersen@jur.ku.dk.