Since its founding in 1948, Israel has faced accusations of genocide against Palestinians, with a broad consensus of scholars now agreeing that its actions during the 2023 Gaza war constitute genocide, though debate persists over whether the historical Nakba or other episodes qualify. Cited as particularly genocidal events are the 1948 Nakba (the displacement of ~750,000 Palestinians), the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the blockade of Gaza, the 2014 Gaza War, and the current conflict, with scholars pointing to entrenched anti-Palestinian racism and dehumanizing rhetoric in Israeli society. In a landmark legal action, South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 29 December 2023, alleging genocide; on 26 January 2024, the ICJ issued a preliminary ruling that the claims were "plausible," ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow basic humanitarian services into Gaza. Israel and the United States have rejected the accusation, with Israeli officials calling the case "disgraceful" and claiming it abets "the modern heirs of the Nazis," while some critics argue the charges are an anti-Zionist effort to demonize the state. Concurrently, other scholars contend the actions are better described as ethnic cleansing, politicide, or cultural genocide, sparking an academic and legal debate about how to label Israel's long-term treatment of Palestinians. The ICJ's involvement, combined with the ongoing scholarly dispute, underscores how the genocide accusation has become a central point of international controversy, framing the conflict beyond just a military or political dispute.