[Sabinus]

> Operation Downfall, the Americans were planning literal genocide against the Japanese.

If you're at war and your opponent has lost but is foreign to the idea of surrender and fights to the last man, and you oblige him, you are pursuing war not genocide.

[CWuestefeld]

Can we apply this to the current conflict in Gaza?

[Sabinus]

In my humble opinion, yes. Modern genocide law doesn't really account for a government engaging in suicidal sacred war.