Mr Branding: Wikipedia Renames Gaza Entry to “Gaza Genocide” After Debate and Expert Opinions Amid Israeli Atrocities in Palestine

Friday, August 9, 2024

Wikipedia Renames Gaza Entry to “Gaza Genocide” After Debate and Expert Opinions Amid Israeli Atrocities in Palestine

The global editors of Wikipedia have concluded Israel guilty of the genocide happening in Palestine and renamed their entry as “Gaza genocide”. There was some debate and voting between editors and now they have declared it as a fact. The editors who have been in support of this change presented their arguments by citing academic articles from human rights professors, genocide scholars, legal experts, Holocaust historians and political experts.

Among these experts is Francesca Albanese who is a UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Territories. Israel and the USA have requested her removal from her position because of her constant support for Palestine and her statements were frequently cited in Wikipedia entries. Some international news sources and organizations were also used as sources. Statements from Anadolu Agency from Turkey, philosopher Ilan Pappé and Ynet and journalist Gideon Levy were also referenced.

Various figures and observers cited statements from Israel that indicated Israel’s intent to destroy Gaza. It clearly shows that it was a genocide against Gaza’s population. 75% US-based Middle East scholars say that Israel committed major war crimes that indicated genocide and some also stated that Israel wants Gaza to become uninhabitable for Palestinians.

Statements from Israel’s government officials were also made part of the entry to prove Israel’s malicious acts. It included statements from Itamar Ben-Gvir (National Security Minister), Isaac Herzog (President), Bezalel Smotrich (Finance Minister) and Benjamin Netanyahu(Prime Minister) saying that they are going to turn Gaza into ruins.

Wikipedia covers this issue with three angles– legal, academic and cultural. It also features extensive definition of genocide, statements from different figures who Pro-Palestine or Pro-Israel and Israel actions on local and international fronts. Editors also cited survey by Brookings Institution showing one-third of Middle Eastern researchers viewing Israel’s actions on Gaza as genocide with 41% seeing it as major war crimes akin to genocide.

Some editors also opposed the title “Gaza Genocide” saying it violates Wikipedia’s policy of neutral titles and shows bias against Israel. They accused Wikipedia of double standards, and one editor claimed that Wikipedia used unreliable sources to show statistics. Israeli editors say that many entries on Wikipedia are written from an anti-Israel perspective.

For context: As of August 2024, the conflict (after October 2023) has resulted in a stark disparity in losses between Israel and Palestine. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with 91,645 reported injured. In addition, over 70,000 housing units in Gaza have been destroyed, and approximately 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced within the region. In comparison, Israel has seen about 5,432 injuries and around 1,200 deaths, with most casualties being military personnel and fewer civilians. The economic and humanitarian toll on Gaza is severe, with over 70% of the population facing food insecurity and extensive infrastructure damage, while Israel’s economic conditions remain relatively stable despite ongoing disruptions. These figures underscore the disproportionate impact of the conflict on Palestinian civilians.