JERUSALEM – Prominent Israeli writer David Grossman has stated that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. He made this clear in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
“For years I hesitated to use the word ‘genocide.’ But seeing the continuous deaths and bloodshed in Gaza, I cannot remain silent. After speaking with the people in Gaza, I cannot go on without using this term,” Grossman said, expressing immense pain and a broken heart over the situation. He further elaborated that the very act of associating the word “genocide” with Israel and the Jewish people indicates a severe moral collapse.
Grossman, a recipient of numerous international literary awards and a long-time critic of the Israeli government, emphasized the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He described the word “genocide” as an “avalanche” that, once uttered, only grows, bringing more destruction and suffering. He also found it “devastating” to link the words “Israel” and “famine,” given the historical context of the Holocaust and the Jewish people’s presumed sensitivity to human suffering.
Despite his strong condemnation, Grossman reiterated his “desperate faith” in a two-state solution, stating that he sees no other viable alternative for resolving the conflict. He also expressed that both Israelis and Palestinians have succumbed to the “temptation of power,” leading to a cycle of violence.
