editorial guide

This document looks to both provide insight into what we look for and a template for our editors to reference when archiving.

Historical Lessons

The Holocaust - the worst genocide in history - is one of the most well-studied events in modern times. Looking back to the period of time leading up to the Holocaust and its early days, we have a prototype for understanding what's happening now in Gaza. We can look to the types of individuals that were involved in enabling it to happen and likewise understand who has a hand in the unfolding events in Gaza today.

Classifying the Enablers

Individuals or groups on genocide.club will fall into one of the following categories.

Perpetrators

Those directly involved in planning, executing, or facilitating genocide. This includes high-ranking government officials, military officers, and others who actively participate in the planning and execution of attacks on, or deprivation of, civilians and their critical infrastructure.

Collaborators

Individuals or groups who, while not part of an official regime or agency, actively collaborated with the perpetrators. This could include local authorities, police, and certain political or societal groups that assisted in the persecution of civilians.

Bystanders

Those who were aware of the atrocities but did not actively participate. Bystanders may have witnessed or heard about the persecution, but either chose not to intervene or were unable to do so due to fear or other constraints. Those who were aware of the events but remained passive or indifferent. This category includes people who may not have actively supported the genocide but did little or nothing to resist or oppose it.

Beneficiaries

Individuals or groups who benefited from the persecution and exploitation of those targeted for murder or displacement. This could include people who seized property, businesses, or wealth confiscated from victims.

Our Premise

It's important to acknowledge that by doing this archiving work, we're accepting the opinion of a number of academics and scholars on the subject of genocide who have said they believe Israel's actions qualify. We also note the interim ruling by the International Court of Justice that Israel's actions to date make a plausible case for genocide.

Subject Inclusion Guide

At a high level, we aim to include individuals or groups that:

  • are of influence; and
  • have made unqualified statements of support or encouragement of Israel's actions against Palestinians

Person of influence

The person or group holds a position with influence over a population and can sway opinion or influence policy or shape acceptable discourse. Typical candidates that meet this criteria are:

  • Active politicians or past heads of state
  • Industry or corporate leaders
  • Prominent media figures or pundits
  • Military or other state officials

Unqualified statements of support or encouragement

If the person or group has made consistent statements in support of Israel's actions in Gaza without calling into question the methods being used, their impacts on civilians, or incitement by Israeli officials, they're - at best - a willing bystander to an unfolding genocide.

Statement Inclusion Guide

To support our subject's inclusion on genocide.club under one of the primary categories above, we include statements they've made in a timeline. Those statements will generally fit one or more of the following categories:

  • Dehumanization - any statement that dehumanizes Palestinians or their supporters, portraying them as less worthy of equal treatment, subhuman, threatening, or evil. By reducing the humanity of the victims, it becomes easier for the perpetrators and their supporters to justify acts of violence and cruelty.
  • Creating a False Narrative - any statement that distorts or revises historical facts, manipulates information, or creates a false narrative that justifies the persecution of Palestinians or their supporters. This false narrative can be used to legitimize discriminatory policies and violent actions.
  • Fostering Fear and Paranoia - statements can instill fear and paranoia among the population, making them more susceptible to accepting extreme measures against Palestinians or their supporters. It may exaggerate threats, real or imagined, posed by Palestinians or their supporters to manipulate public sentiment.
  • Building Support for Persecution - any statement that aims to garner support for discriminatory laws, policies, or actions against Palestinians. It often exploits existing prejudices and fears, turning them into widespread public sentiment in favor of harsh measures.
  • Creating a Sense of National Crisis - any statement that may portray Palestinians or their supporters as a threat to a nation, creating a false sense of crisis that requires drastic measures for the preservation of a state and its people. This narrative can be used to justify extreme actions, including genocide in the case of Palestinians, or heavy-handed police action in the case of supporters abroad.
  • Promoting Solidarity with the IDF or Israeli Government - statements that foster a sense of unity among the perpetrators and their supporters, creating an "us versus them" mentality. This sense of solidarity can lead to the dehumanization and scapegoating of Palestinians, making it easier to commit atrocities.
  • Normalizing Violence - statements that normalize violence against Palestinians by portraying such actions as necessary for the greater good, national security, or the preservation of a particular ideology. This normalization desensitizes people to the brutality of genocide.

It's important to note that it's the collective impact of these statements over time that need to be considered in determining whether an individual or group should be included. In some cases what's left unsaid is just as important as an explicit statement.