The Gender Reveal Bombing
by Ahmed Wahbi / GICJ
On 5 May 2025, Israeli soldiers bombed a Palestinian civilian building in Gaza and shouted, “It is a boy,” while laughing and filming as blue smoke rose over the collapsed ruins. This act served no military purpose; it represented calculated humiliation and the deliberate targeting of civilian property.
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian objects and the degradation of protected persons. This incident reflects a grave breach of basic rights.
On the same day as the demolition, the Israeli government approved a plan to extend control over the entire Gaza Strip, maintain an indefinite military presence, block humanitarian aid, and forcibly displace civilians further south. This move worsens an already severe humanitarian crisis and signals an intention to prolong and entrench occupation, in clear violation of international law.
For over seven months, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 52,000 Palestinians. Civilian infrastructure, homes, schools, hospitals, water systems, has been systematically destroyed. Families still face life without access to basic necessities, with children dying from hunger and disease under sustained bombardment. The military campaign has consistently disregarded the fundamental principles of civilian protection and human dignity.
The question now presses urgently: for how long will states, institutions, and political leaders allow political calculations to stand above legal obligations and moral responsibility? How long will the international community remain passive while the destruction of a civilian population unfolds in plain view?
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) unequivocally condemns the deliberate destruction of civilian property, the ongoing military campaign, and the unlawful occupation of Gaza. The Centre recognises Israel’s actions as constituting genocide and calls upon all states to immediately halt arms transfers, exercise universal jurisdiction to pursue legal accountability, and support coordinated international action to bring Israeli leadership to justice. The time for statements has passed. The time for concrete, collective action is now.
