How to Respond When Israelis Accuse Israel of “Committing a Holocaust”

On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, an Israeli man told me that Israel has been committing a Holocaust against Palestinians for 77 years. Instead of dismissing him or calling him names, I asked him to explain what he meant. Only when someone specifies the “crimes” they believe Israel is committing can we respond with facts rather than emotion.

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Yesterday, an Israeli man I know accused Israel of committing a Holocaust against the Palestinian people for 77 years. My first impulse was to call him out for cheapening the Holocaust and for implying that Israelis are Nazis. But that would go nowhere. So I asked him to explain what he meant.

This is the only productive way to respond. You cannot counter a sweeping accusation. You can only address specific claims. If the person is wrong, you can respond with facts. If they are misinterpreting Israeli actions and labeling them “Holocaust‑like,” you can examine whether the accusation holds up.

One of his central claims was that Israel is “indiscriminately bombing and killing mainly women and children.” This accusation is repeated constantly, so I focused on it.

He was referring, of course, to the war against Hamas in Gaza. And yes, if Israel were truly indiscriminately bombing civilians, especially women and children, that would be a war crime. But to call it a Holocaust would require proving that Israel is systematically and intentionally seeking out Gazans to kill, wherever they may be. That is not happening.

I told him to watch an eight‑minute video by Nick Freitas, a former Green Beret and weapons and intelligence specialist in Iraq. If he refused to watch it, the conversation would be over. For those who prefer to read, I summarized the main points.

What Military Experts Say                         

Asymmetry is central to Hamas strategy. A weaker force uses the strengths of the stronger force against them. Hamas knew they would not overthrow Israel. They knew that taking hostages would force the IDF to enter Gaza. They also knew that Western academia and media would rally to their side if civilian casualties rose. Urban warfare guarantees civilian casualties. No military, no matter how advanced, can avoid them entirely.

Freitas described entering buildings where women and children were behind every door. When a twelve‑year‑old opens fire, defending yourself becomes a “child casualty” in Hamas reporting. Hamas counts every such incident as proof of Israeli brutality.

The IDF warns civilians before strikes. They send texts, drop leaflets and call residents. No other military does this. There is no proportionality metric that would show the IDF falling short. In fact, the IDF exceeds every known standard.

An honest media would ask why Hamas keeps women and children in combat zones. If Israel wanted to commit genocide, it could have done so long ago. Hamas, on the other hand, has openly stated what it would do if it had the power. Israel would not exist.

Freitas asked a simple question. If Mexico crossed into Texas, killed 40,000 people and kidnapped 1,500, and the EU told the U.S. to show restraint, how would America respond? The answer is obvious.

The West has taught Hamas that the more civilian casualties they produce, the more support and funding they receive. We have incentivized them to sacrifice their own civilians.

Yet some people, including Israelis who should know better, still claim Israel is indiscriminately bombing women and children. They repeat Hamas talking points without understanding the reality of urban warfare or Hamas strategy.

This is why, when someone accuses Israel of committing a Holocaust, the only meaningful response is to ask them to explain exactly what they mean. Then you can respond with facts.

You can read the full indepth Substack version of this article here.

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