Israel's destruction of Gaza has caused a rift among Holocaust historians and genocide scholars. They're at odds with one another over what to call it. Is it genocide? Another category of war crime? Or are Israel's actions justified under international law? In this episode, historian Dirk Moses, an expert on genocide studies and international relations, delves into the history of the genocide concept and why over the past 80 years it's been unhelpful in defining, preventing, or punishing the destruction of nations.

Further reading:

dirkmoses.com for relevant articles and reviews

The Problems of Genocide: Permanent Security and the Language of Transgression by Dirk Moses (book)

The Gaza Genocide in Five Crises By Ernesto Verdeja (article)