Claims and counterclaims of genocide involving the Israelis and Palestinians in the current State of Israel and the surrounding territories date back at least as far as the founding of Israel itself. Though there is no consensus on whether ethnic cleansing and/or genocide has occurred or is occurring in this region, much less by which party or parties, there are events and movements on both sides of the dispute for which claims of genocide are examined. For detailed information about this region, see Arab-Israeli conflict, in which the competing views of this conflict are very comprehensively discussed, and its many related articles.

Allegations of crimes committed by Israel and Israelis

In general, accusations against Israel relate to systematic killing of hundreds of civilians during the war of 1947-1948, as well as the forcible expulsion of many Palestinians from their homes in what became Israel. The Palestinians point to Israeli forces' destruction of over three hundred Palestinian villages that they had fled or been expelled from by Jewish forces in what they view as an effort to prevent their return to the areas conquered by Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Other acts and policies of the Israeli government that have also been seen by the Palestinian side as promoting ethnic cleansing and/or genocide:

• Opposition to what they view as a Palestinian Right of return, at least in part for the purpose of preserving Israel as a majority Jewish state.
• Collective punishment of Palestinians, e.g. punishment of family members of alleged terrorists, or general restrictions on all Palestinians as a response to violence committed by individuals.
• Establishment of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and creation of the Israeli West Bank barrier, which has been ruled as illegal in a non-binding decision by the International Court of Justice, and which Palestinians and their supporters consider to be a "land grab" or outright ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from captured areas.

Allegations made against Arab governments, organizations, and individuals

In general, accusations against Arab parties point to systematic killing of hundreds of Jewish civilians in the Mandate of Palestine between 1929 and 1948. Accusers also point to a trend of what appears to be regional anti-Semitism and the historical hostility of Arab regimes to the existence of a Jewish state. Actions by Palestinian organizations and neighboring Arab nations towards Israel following its creation are interpreted as largely unsuccessful genocidal actions, e.g.,:

• The attack on Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, with the attackers (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia) explicitly stated goal being the destruction of the newly-formed state.
• Continuing rhetoric by neighboring states claiming the illegitimacy of Israel and calling for its destruction.
• Ongoing Intifadas by Palestinian groups, particularly the targeting of Israeli civilians by suicide bombers. Prominent figures within the Palestinian Authority, including Yasser Arafat, have made public statements on the PA State-Controlled Television calling for the destruction of Israel, which supporters of Israel argue is motivated by anti-Semitism, and constitutes a threat of genocide.
• Indoctrination of Arab children to hate Jews, both through television and school education. "Indoctrination" includes teaching children to reject the right of Israel to exist, and support for Jihad against Israel and her supporters.