Session on ‘Gaza Genocide’ calls for sustained civil society action

Jaipur: Speakers at a session titled "Gaza Genocide" at Jaipur Literature Festival Saturday described Israel's actions against Palestinians as genocide and called for global acknowledgement and sustained civil society engagement to ensure such atrocities were not repeated. The panel, moderated by former diplomat Navdeep Suri, featured historian Avi Shlaim, activist Noa Avishag Schnall, journalist Ramita Navai, and writer-poet Lena Khalaf Tuffaha.Addressing the audience, panelists argued that the scale, intent, and systematic nature of violence in Gaza met the definition of genocide under international law. They argued that the world's first live-streamed genocide by Israel was planned for years.
Israeli-British historian Avi Shlaim said the 1948 Genocide Convention, created in the aftermath of the Holocaust to ensure "never again", applied universally and not selectively. "The same standards must apply to all states," he said, adding that Israel's rhetoric and actions fulfilled multiple criteria outlined in the convention.Activist Noa Avishag Schnall shared first-hand accounts from a recent freedom flotilla mission to Gaza in Oct, describing how activists were intercepted, detained, and abused by Israeli forces despite undertaking a non-violent humanitarian journey. She stressed, however, that their suffering was insignificant compared to what Palestinians endured daily under occupation and siege."This genocide should be talked about by students, women, and professionals, irrespective of how far away you are from their geography. Our role is to amplify Palestinian voices and resist the erasure that makes genocide possible," she said, responding to a question on what civil society in nations like India can do.British journalist Ramita Navai spoke about her documentary on attacks against Gaza's healthcare system, alleging systematic targeting of doctors, hospitals, and medical infrastructure. She said dozens of Palestinian doctors were detained, tortured, and later released without charge, and criticised Western media institutions for what she described as self-censorship when reporting on Israel-Palestine.Arab American poet and writer Lena Khalaf Tuffaha highlighted the importance of distinguishing between Judaism and Zionism. "Challenging Zionism is a moral and political responsibility," she said, adding that Palestinian erasure begins with the denial of language, culture, and humanity. The panel also criticised Western govts for what they termed hypocrisy and complicity, arguing that unconditional diplomatic and military support enabled continued violations of international law.