As the rockets continue to fly in Gaza, so to do the accusations.
Some 40 Holocaust survivors and over 200 of their descendants have compared Israel to Nazi Germany.
The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, which has in the past been highly critical of Israel, has taken out an ad in The New York Times. The statement refers to “Israel’s wholesale effort to destroy Gaza” and goes on to say, “Genocide begins with the silence of the world. Never again must mean never again for anyone.”
They’re not the only ones to make such a comparison. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Israel last month for what he said was a “genocide” of his people. (Video via Press TV)
His words were echoed by more than one world leader.
Then there was this viral online petition in Italy demanding Israel get its own Nuremberg trial — a reference, of course, to the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.
But on the other side of this debate is prominent Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel. (Video via Free The Children International)
He recently penned a highly controversial open letter of his own equating Hamas with the Nazis. He called for an end to what he said was “child sacrifice” on the part of Hamas.
The Israeli government, too, has accused Hamas of using “human shields.” In other words, hiding its leaders and weaponry in civilians areas. (Video via BBC)
With both sides accusing each other of war crimes, the U.N. Human Rights Council has launched an independent commission to investigate the allegations.
Meanwhile, the conflict shows few signs of letting up. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes reportedly destroyed a 12-floor apartment building in Gaza city — wounding 30. The target, according to Israeli media, was an operations center run by the militants. (Video via RT)
This, after the Israeli army says Hamas fired more than 100 rockets into southern Israel. (Video viaIsrael Defense Forces)
According to U.N. estimates, more than 2,100 Palestinians have died in the conflict, including 500 children. On the Israeli side, 64 soldiers have died as well as four civilians.