Volume 16, Issue 1 (Quarterly Journal of Political Research in the Islamic World, Spring 2026)
پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2026, 16(1): 47-62 |
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Zare Khormizi M R. A Comparative Study of the Genocide of Christian and Muslim Civilians by Jewish Actors: The Cases of al-Ukhdūd and Gaza. پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2026; 16 (1) :47-62
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-1961-en.html
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-1961-en.html
Assistant Professor, Department of History of Islam, Ahlul Bayt International University, Tehran, Iran. , khormizi@abu.ac.ir
Abstract: (670 Views)
| Introduction Collective violence against civilians is one of the most persistent and complex phenomena in political and social history. Among its various forms, genocide occupies a unique place in international law, political history, and genocide studies because it involves the intentional destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The defining characteristic of genocide is not merely mass killing but the specific intent to eliminate a protected group based on its collective identity. This element distinguishes genocide from other forms of political violence. This article comparatively examines two historical and contemporary cases of identity-based violence: the Event of al-Ukhdūd and the events in Gaza. It seeks to analyze the logic of eliminationist violence committed by Jewish actors against Christian and Muslim civilians in two different historical contexts. The central research question is how the genocide of Christian civilians in the Event of al-Ukhdūd and the alleged genocide of Muslim civilians in Gaza occurred, and what similarities and differences exist regarding their causes, motivations, methods, consequences, and responses from the surrounding environment. Despite the historical distance between these two cases, both involve organized violence directed against populations identified primarily by their religious identity. Therefore, comparing these cases contributes to a deeper understanding of recurring patterns of identity-based violence and the evolution of mechanisms of mass atrocities. This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on comparative case-study methodology. Data were collected through documentary and library research. The analysis of the Event of al-Ukhdūd relies on primary Islamic and historical sources, including the Holy Qur’an, classical Qur’anic commentaries, and authoritative historical texts, which provide evidence concerning the political, religious, and social context of the massacre of the Christians of Najrān. The analysis of the Gaza case is based on legal documents, reports of international organizations, publications of internationally recognized human rights organizations, and contemporary academic literature. The comparative analytical framework consists of six principal indicators:
The findings demonstrate that the Event of al-Ukhdūd represents a clear example of direct, intentional, and identity-based violence against a religious community. Dhū Nuwās, the Jewish ruler of Himyar, ordered the mass killing of the Christians of Najrān after they refused to renounce their faith. The use of burning victims alive in trenches of fire functioned not only as a method of execution but also as a symbolic instrument of terror and religious domination. The victims were targeted because of their religious identity, a characteristic that corresponds with essential elements of genocide relating to the intentional destruction of a protected religious group. The Gaza case illustrates a contemporary form of organized violence characterized by both direct military operations and indirect structural mechanisms. These include prolonged blockade, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, attacks on hospitals, schools, and residential areas, forced displacement, and deprivation of essential resources such as food, water, medicine, and fuel. The combination of military force, technological superiority, territorial control, and political support from influential international actors has enabled the continuation of large-scale destruction and civilian suffering. Comparative analysis reveals several common characteristics between the two cases. In both instances, a dominant political authority targeted a vulnerable identity-based population and justified its actions through ideological narratives. In al-Ukhdūd, religious conformity and political obedience served as the principal justification, whereas in Gaza, security and political narratives have been employed to legitimize military operations, siege, and extensive destruction. In both cases, violence extended beyond physical killing to include the systematic destruction or weakening of the targeted community. At the same time, significant differences distinguish the two cases. The Event of al-Ukhdūd occurred within a premodern political order characterized by direct and localized violence. In contrast, Gaza reflects contemporary patterns of warfare involving advanced military technology, economic restrictions, infrastructure destruction, psychological warfare, and extensive international media coverage. The international response also differs substantially, as Gaza has become the subject of ongoing attention by international organizations, human rights institutions, and international judicial bodies. The comparative findings suggest that although the historical contexts differ considerably, both cases exhibit recurring patterns of identity-based collective violence in which a dominant political authority directs systematic violence against a protected religious community. The principal distinction lies in the transformation of methods of violence—from direct physical extermination in the premodern era to multidimensional and structural mechanisms of destruction in the contemporary international system. The study further indicates that modern international legal institutions and global human rights mechanisms have not consistently prevented or effectively halted large-scale violence against civilian populations, despite the existence of legal norms prohibiting genocide and crimes against humanity. Overall, the comparative analysis demonstrates that the Event of al-Ukhdūd and the events in Gaza share important structural characteristics concerning identity-based targeting, ideological justification, and the systematic destruction of civilian communities, while differing substantially in their historical context, instruments of violence, and patterns of international response. The article argues that these historical and contemporary cases contribute to broader discussions concerning genocide, collective violence, and the limitations of international mechanisms for civilian protection. It further concludes that historical evidence of violence committed by Jewish political actors against other religious community's challenges generalized narratives that exclusively portray Jews as historical victims of genocide. |
Keywords: Genocide, Mass Killing, Event of al-Ukhdūd, Palestine, Events of Gaza, Jews, Zionist Regime.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/04/3 | Accepted: 2026/03/1 | Published: 2026/05/31
Received: 2025/04/3 | Accepted: 2026/03/1 | Published: 2026/05/31
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