Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved on Sunday to designate violence against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide. This step, pending approval in Parliament, reflects deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey. Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed around 1915, an event widely viewed as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies these deaths constituted genocide, arguing they were victims of civil war and unrest.
For years, Israel avoided the issue out of fear of angering Turkey, but relations have soured over recent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized that despite extensive historical documentation, the Armenian Genocide remains a subject of denial and minimization by Turkey’s government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously described the violence as genocide, but it was never formally recognized by Israel’s Knesset.
The decision comes amid repeated accusations from the United Nations and Turkey that Israel’s offensive in Gaza constitutes genocide. Israel denies these claims, stating its military does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of using them as human shields. Last week, a UN expert team accused Israel of deliberately targeting children in Gaza, further escalating tensions.