During the French-language leaders debate last week, for example, NDP LeaderJagmeet Singh asked Liberal Leader Mark Carney, “Why don’t you call it what it is? It’s a genocide.” Carney responded that he prefers not to use the word “genocide” in a manner that will “politicize” the situation in Gaza.

The next evening, during the English-language debate,Singh criticized Carney for not acknowledging that “what’s going on in Gaza has now clearly become a genocide.”

This time, Carney did not directly address the genocide claim. Instead, hestuck to theLiberal platform of calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, more humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and a lasting two-state solution.

Earlier in the month, during a Carney campaign rally, an attendeeshouted, “There’s a genocide happening in Palestine.” Rather than confronting the assertion, Carney responded, “I’m aware, which is why we have an arms embargo.” When asked later by a reporter if he concedes there is a genocide in Gaza,Carney claimed he “didn’t hear that word” during the rally.

While Carney’s assertion seems rather implausible based onvideo of the exchange, his campaigndid not return repeated requests to clarify his position on the “genocide” issue following the rally and aftera video surfaced of Liberal candidate Adam van Koeverden telling a group of constituents that their voices will help “end the genocide in Gaza.”

With the NDP leader stridently insisting Israel is committing genocide and the Liberal leader’s position on the matter unclear, the characterization of Israel’s conflict against Hamas in Gaza has emerged as a central — perhaps even pivotal — issue in the federal election. It is imperative to clarify whether the military campaign against Hamas actually does qualify as one of the worst possible crimes under international law.

In short, no, Israel is not committing genocide. Canada’s political leaders should be clear about this, or they should be held accountable for misleading the electorate.

The crime of genocide is established in theGenocide Convention of 1948 and clarified in theRome Statute of 1998, both of which Canada has adopted. It is committed when prohibited acts are carried out “with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”

Israel’s political leaders have repeatedly affirmed that the strategic objectives of the campaign in Gaza are to destroy Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, thereby ending the enduring security threat posed by the terrorist group, and the return of all the hostages.