Google's Gemini becomes a mealy-mouth when asked about Genocide in Gaza

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Google's Gemini AI chatbot provides a very wordy answer to this simple question, but refuses to come to a definitive conclusion:

Clay: Gemini, Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?

Gemini: The question of whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza is a complex and highly contentious issue, with differing legal interpretations and significant international debate.

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

Legal Definition of Genocide:

Under Article 2 of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, genocide is defined as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."

A crucial element in proving genocide is establishing "genocidal intent" – the specific objective to destroy a group, in whole or in part.¹ This is often the most difficult aspect to prove in legal proceedings.

Arguments and Allegations of Genocide:

• South Africa's ICJ Case: In January 2024, South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging that Israel's military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide. While the court has not yet ruled on the merits of the charge, it has issued binding provisional measures, including directives to ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid, reflecting a "plausible" risk of genocide.²

• Expert Consensus: A growing number of international law experts, UN officials, and human rights organizations, including some Israeli scholars, are increasingly characterizing Israel's conduct in Gaza as genocidal.³ They point to:

  • Large-scale killing: As of July 2025, over 59,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with over half identified as women and children.

  • Use of starvation as a weapon: Reports indicate deliberate starvation and the destruction of Palestinian reproductive capacity.⁴ Access to food, water, and electricity remains critically limited.⁵

  • Destruction of civilian infrastructure: Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and a significant portion of Gaza's hospitals and educational institutions have been destroyed or damaged.⁶

  • Forced displacement: Over 85% of Gaza's population (over 1.9 million people) has been forcibly displaced.

  • Statements by Israeli officials: Some observers, including UN experts, cite statements by senior Israeli officials that may indicate an "intent to destroy" Gaza's population in whole or in part.

• UN and Human Rights Organizations: Organizations like Amnesty International, Médecins Sans Frontières, and various UN special committees and rapporteurs have stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.⁷

Israel's Position and Counterarguments:

• Self-defense: Israel denies South Africa's allegations and maintains that its military actions are a legitimate response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and are aimed at destroying Hamas and ensuring its security.⁸

• Lawful conduct: Israel asserts that its forces act in accordance with international law and endeavor to minimize civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for operating within civilian areas.

• Aid delivery: Israel claims it allows sufficient aid into Gaza and accuses Hamas of diverting it, a claim the UN denies.⁹

• Lack of genocidal intent: Some scholars of international law and genocide studies argue there is insufficient evidence of a specific "intent to destroy" the Palestinian people as a group.

International Legal Processes:

• ICJ: The ICJ case brought by South Africa is ongoing and a final verdict is expected to take years.¹⁰

• International Criminal Court (ICC): The ICC has an ongoing investigation into potential crimes committed by both parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including during the current Gaza war.¹¹ The ICC Prosecutor has sought arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders on charges including war crimes and crimes against humanity.¹

In summary, while no international court has yet issued a final ruling finding Israel guilty of genocide in the current conflict, the allegations are serious and are being actively pursued in international legal forums. There is a strong and growing consensus among many legal experts and human rights organizations that Israel's actions meet the legal definition of genocide, while Israel vehemently denies these claims

Clay: But what is your conclusion? Can you answer yes or no?

Whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza is a question that cannot be definitively answered with a simple "yes" or "no" at this time, as it is a matter of ongoing legal proceedings and intense international debate.

Here's why a simple "yes" or "no" is insufficient:

• Legal Determination Required: Under international law, a finding of genocide requires a formal legal determination by a competent court or tribunal, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While the ICJ has indicated a "plausible risk of genocide" and issued provisional measures, it has not yet made a final ruling on the merits of the case.

• Intent is Key: The legal definition of genocide hinges on the difficult-to-prove element of "genocidal intent"—the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.¹ Proving this intent is complex.

• Differing Interpretations: Legal scholars, international organizations, and national governments hold diverse views on whether the actions and stated intentions of Israeli officials meet the high bar for proving genocide.

Therefore, as an AI, I cannot provide a "yes" or "no" answer to a question that is currently the subject of complex legal processes and significant international disagreement. My role is to provide factual and nuanced information based on the available data, which in this case points to a highly contested and unresolved legal and ethical question.

Clay: How much business does Google do with Israel?

Gemini: Google has significant business dealings with Israel, encompassing a range of activities from major acquisitions to government contracts and partnerships with local companies.

Here's a summary of the key areas of Google's business with Israel:

1. Project Nimbus:

Google and Amazon were awarded a joint $1.2 billion contract by the Israeli government in 2021 to provide cloud computing services for its public sector, known as "Project Nimbus."

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I wonder how many megawatts it took for the Google data centers to come up with the mealy-mouthed answer? I guess it knows who's paying the electric bill, and if you didn't know that AI answers can be bent by political & financial considerations—well, you know it now.

Clay Claiborne

22 July 2025

See also:

Even Elon's AI admits: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza