Genocide has a very specific definition, which has become muddied in the waters of the Gaza conflict. The best illustration of why this conflict does not meet the legal standards of a genocide was provided by the Jan. 26 International Court of Justice ruling in the case South Africa brought against the government of Israel. In that ruling, they were careful to *not* rule that Israel is committing genocide. Indeed, while the court expressed concern that some of the acts alleged by South Africa (who filed the suit) taken by Israel, “appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the Genocide Convention,” the ICJ didn’t even go as far as to order a ceasefire. The ICJ abides by the United Nations Genocide Convention of 1948 and the definition of the term therein. Here’s that definition as laid out in Article II of the Convention:

It was a test run. A proof of concept. A dress rehearsal.

“The Israelites were sent many, many messengers and prophets. They killed some of them. They even tried to kill Jesus.” These were the words of an Imam who gave a sermon to a room full of children at the Colorado Muslims Community Center in Aurora on Oct. 22. He then told a story of Jewish fishermen who cast nets prior to the sabbath, then retrieved the nets the day after. “What did Allah do to them as a punishment? Yes? Yes. He made them into monkeys. Literal physical monkeys. Monkeys. Does this sound like a people you want to do business with?”