Norman Finkelstein Argues Gaza Was Genocide, Not War, on Hearst Podcast

Political scientist Norman Finkelstein used a new podcast appearance with journalist David Hearst to argue that the war in Gaza should be classified as genocide under international law rather than characterized as conventional warfare between two military forces. "The moment you say it's a war, Israel has won the propaganda war," Finkelstein said, framing the terminology itself as a battleground where language choices shape international perception and legal accountability. The episode, part of Hearst's new podcast, examines how media framing of the conflict has influenced public and diplomatic responses since Israel's military campaign began in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

Finkelstein, an American political scientist and long-time critic of Israeli policy, has for decades focused his scholarship on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the legal distinctions separating war from genocide under international humanitarian law. His argument rests on the premise that the word "war" implies two comparably armed sides engaged in mutual combat, whereas the scale of civilian casualties, the destruction of Gaza's housing and hospital infrastructure, and restrictions on humanitarian access meet the threshold international law reserves for genocide rather than armed conflict between states.

The discussion arrives as international legal bodies, including the International Court of Justice, have separately examined genocide allegations against Israel over its Gaza campaign in cases brought by South Africa. Qatar has played a central mediating role throughout the war, hosting repeated rounds of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations between Israeli and Hamas officials in Doha alongside Egyptian and American counterparts. Doha has also been among the largest sources of humanitarian aid funding and logistics for Gaza's population throughout the conflict, positioning Qatari diplomacy at the intersection of the legal and political questions Finkelstein's commentary raises about how the war is described and adjudicated internationally.