Israel says Gaza genocide is a lie B population of people there increased 

The argument that Gaza's historical or long-term population growth contradicts allegations of genocide is a core part of Israel's defense, but international legal bodies, demographic data, and human rights organizations reject this premise. They note that the legal definition of genocide relies on specific acts and intent, not on total population trends over decades or a net upward baseline from the past

The Claim vs. Demographic Reality

The Israeli Argument: Supporters and officials point out that over the decades preceding the conflict, Gaza’s population grew significantly. The logic is that a state committing or intending genocide would not preside over an expanding population.

The Counter-Analysis: Statisticians and demographers emphasize that historical growth is irrelevant to evaluating continuous, rapid war crimes or genocidal acts during a specific active conflict. Furthermore, official tracking by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and international demographic studies show that since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, Gaza’s population has actually decreased by roughly 6% to 10% due to tens of thousands of recorded fatalities, missing persons, and outward displacement