Israeli author Grossman calls Gaza war a genocide

The award-winning Israeli author David Grossman has described his country’s campaign in Gaza as a genocide and said he now “can’t help” but use the term.

Speaking in an interview with an Italian newspaper, Grossman said he used this term with a broken heart and deep pain. Grossman who has won several international awards and Israel’s top literary honor in 2018, said he had avoided using the word genocide for many years. However, he said the recent images from Gaza and conversations with people who had witnessed the destruction forced him to speak out.

He added that using the word genocide felt like releasing an avalanche — a powerful term that brings even more emotional weight and pain. His remarks came shortly after a major Israeli human rights group also described the situation in Gaza as genocide, as concerns continue to grow over rising hunger and suffering in the war-torn area.

Grossman said it was heartbreaking to connect the words Israel and famine, especially considering the Jewish people’s own tragic history during the Holocaust. He said that Israel was expected to be more sensitive to human suffering, given its past. The author has been a long-time critic of the Israeli government and its policies. His latest statement has added to the growing international debate on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As the conflict continues, voices like Grossman’s from within Israel are drawing attention globally. Many observers see his comments as a powerful moment of reflection during a time of intense violence and suffering.