We’re tired of the use of the word “genocide" being applied to Gaza. Let's consider the numbers.

Taking Hamas produced numbers of civilian deaths at face value (and there is ample reason to dispute the reliability of the figure), as of today, that stands at a bit under 60,000. Let's just use that number. The population of Gaza before Hamas decided to invade Israel on October 7 was at 2.3 million (not a single Jew among them, because they had total control over Gaza — no Jews allowed).

First, during this urban war, where the typical accepted and expected combatant to civilian ratio among modern military experts stands at about 1:9, even taking unfavorable estimates, Israel is closer to 1:1 or at worst about 1:5. So a relatively small number of those 60,000 are civilians compared to any other urban warfare conducted in human history by anyone, anywhere on earth.

Second, let's look at this "genocide": we're talking 2.6% of the Gazan population, including every one of those 60,000 deaths. Not 2.6% of Palestinians living within Israel. Not 2.6% of Palestinians worldwide. Not 2.6% of Arabs.

2.6% of Gazans.

Third, let's compare what has previously been considered genocide:

Let's start with the Armenians. Estimates vary widely between 30% and 75% of their people WORLDWIDE, not isolated within a particular small region.

Let's move on to Rwandan genocide of the Tutsis. 70-75% of all the Tutsis in the world were killed.

While there are certainly others worthy of mention, I'll end with the one closest to home for me. The Holocaust resulted in the killing of nearly 2/3 of all of European Jews, and about half of the entire population is Jews worldwide.

And now let's return to that generous 2.6% of Gazans number. A recent estimate was that there are 14.3 million Palestinians living around the globe. That was the most recent reliable estimate I could find.

That puts the death toll in Gaza at 0.042% of the population of Palestinians worldwide.

So just stop it with the genocide label — it's utter nonsense, complete propaganda, and only accepted because it's a modern-day blood libel against the Jews. The genocide label cheapens the word with every misuse and insults those of us with extended families far smaller than they should be.