WASHINGTON: The White House dismissed claims from several organizations on January 8 that Israel’s military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, just one day after affirming that genocide is taking place in Sudan.

Medics reported that Israeli forces had killed at least 50 Palestinians in Gaza within the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, hospitals in the region, including Al Aqsa, Nasser, and European hospitals, are facing imminent closure due to severe fuel shortages.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed hope that a ceasefire and agreement to release captives in Gaza could be reached soon. 

Israel’s military announced that they had recovered the body of captive Yousef al-Ziyadna from an underground tunnel in Rafah, Gaza.

Since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, the war has resulted in the deaths of at least 45,936 Palestinians and injuries to 109,274 others. On the day of the Hamas-led assault, 1,139 lives were lost in Israel, and over 200 individuals were captured. 

Despite these developments, several international organizations, including a UN special committee and Amnesty International, have determined that Israel’s actions do not meet the criteria for genocide.

The UN committee reported that Israel’s blockade of Gaza, interference with humanitarian aid, and repeated attacks on civilians and aid workers are resulting in death, starvation, and severe injury. These actions, they argue, amount to collective punishment and the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

Since the beginning of Israel's campaign against Gaza after the October 7 attack, over 45,800 people have been killed. The attack itself led to 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken by Hamas.

Earlier in November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. They were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Furthermore, Israel is currently facing a case of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

In a related development, the Biden administration declared on Tuesday that genocide is currently taking place in Sudan. According to Secretary Blinken, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies have carried out systematic atrocities, including targeting civilians, murdering ethnic groups, and committing sexual violence against women and girls.