Peace Envoy Denies Genocide Accusations Against Israel

In a recent interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” President Trump’s Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, firmly rejected claims that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Both Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and special adviser, argued that the term genocide isn’t warranted, despite the extensive destruction reported in Gaza.

Leslie Stahl, the host, probed them about their views post-visit. “Now that you’ve been there, can you say it was a genocide?” she asked.

Kushner was quick to respond, “No, no.” Witkoff echoed, “Absolutely not. No, no, there was a war going on.”

The two last visited Gaza on October 11, shortly before a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was implemented. They entered under Israeli military protection, as noted by the Wall Street Journal. The Trump administration had also set up a Civil-Military Coordination Center to facilitate post-conflict recovery.

Since Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel’s conflict has led to over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by health officials in Gaza, with women and children making up a significant portion of that number.

A United Nations report released last month cited that Israeli authorities had reportedly committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, the International Association of Genocide Scholars stated in August that Israel’s actions align with the legal definition of genocide.

South Africa is currently pursuing legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with many supporters, has strongly denied these accusations. During a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September, he defended Israel’s military actions as necessary for combating an enemy that operates amidst civilians and disrupts humanitarian efforts.

Kushner and Witkoff arrived in Israel on Monday morning, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. embassy. Their visit is notable amid accusations from Israel that Hamas has violated the ceasefire by attacking Israeli forces in southern Gaza’s Rafah. Although both sides seem to have recommitted to the ceasefire, Israel engaged in counterattacks over the weekend.

President Trump commented to reporters aboard Air Force One that the ceasefire remains “still in place,” adding that Hamas continues to exhibit “pretty violent” behavior.