The Times: Genocide continues — but not in Gaza. Western double standards and Ukraine's tragedy

"Genocide is in full swing, but not in Gaza. Accusing Israel of attempts to destroy the Palestinian people is a luxury. Liberals should criticize HAMAS and Russia, not pick on Zelensky," - The Times.
Historian Niall Ferguson in The Times harshly accused Western leaders of double standards — the world condemns Israel but turns a blind eye to the real crimes of Russia against Ukraine. Numbers and facts of genocide that are deliberately overlooked.

Why did The Times article become a challenge for Europe and the USA?

The British publication The Times published a resonant article by the well-known historian Niall Ferguson, in which he launched a sharp criticism of Western governments and politicians for their hypocritical stance on global conflicts. In his opinion, special attention is paid to accusations against Israel of an alleged "genocide" in Gaza, while the real crimes against humanity taking place in Ukraine are preferred to be ignored by Western elites.
The key idea of the article is double standards, when against the background of the real tragedy of the Ukrainian people, the topic of "genocide" in Gaza becomes a tool of political rhetoric and not genuine care for real victims.
According to the author, it is precisely Russia's actions in Ukraine that are an example of real genocide.
Children of Ukraine: facts the West ignores
A special emphasis in the article is placed on the tragedy of Ukrainian children whom Russia forcibly deports to its territory. According to official data, we are talking about at least 19,456 children, but the Yale University Humanitarian Lab estimates the scale of the catastrophe at up to 35,000 minors.
Many of them were forcibly adopted, had their names changed, and lost their Ukrainian identity. There is evidence that some teenagers are being forcibly Russified and even mobilized into the Russian army.

The Times: Genocide continues – but not in Gaza. Double standards of the West and the tragedy of Ukraine
Fact:
"Genocide is not only physical but also cultural destruction. Ukraine is losing a generation that would be its future," — notes the article in The Times.
Statistics of the war: real victims instead of loud slogans
Ferguson provides specific data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine:
- 232 civilians killed and 1,343 wounded — just in June 2025 as a result of Russian missile strikes and drone attacks.
- In the first half of 2025, the number of civilian casualties increased by 54% compared to the same period last year.
- Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has killed at least 12,580 Ukrainian civilians.
These numbers are a direct illustration of systemic war crimes that the West prefers to ignore when it comes not to the Middle East but to Ukraine.
Criticism of the Western political elite: what is the essence of hypocrisy?
The historian emphasizes: against the background of such a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe, the governments of countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Canada actively promote the idea of recognizing Palestinian statehood. At the same time, in their own capitals, they discuss how to limit assistance to Ukraine and accuse the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of "not fighting corruption enough."
"Support for Palestinian statehood in the absence of conditions for its real existence is a classic example of status beliefs," writes Ferguson. Such ideas often have no practical benefit but serve as a symbol of belonging to the progressive elite.
He notes: for many in the West, defending Palestinian interests becomes a "fashionable" symbol — even if it does not mean real support or care for the victims.
How "talk of genocide in Gaza" plays into the hands of dictators
In his article, Ferguson warns: discussions about the alleged genocide by Israel in Gaza and support for the Palestinian issue are a political game that weakens democratic countries and helps authoritarian regimes. In his view, such a stance undermines the strategic interests of the entire West and distracts from real threats — for example, the full-scale war and genocide in Ukraine.
He calls on Western leaders to abandon empty political rituals and instead focus on supporting real democracies, particularly Ukraine and Israel.

Double standards of the West: a view from Israel and Ukraine

This material resonates especially in Israel — first and foremost among Jewish families, for whom the concepts of genocide and deportation carry historical and personal pain. The experience of the Holocaust makes any topic related to mass crimes against children acute and relevant for Israeli society. At the same time, the issue of solidarity between Israel and Ukraine comes to the fore — both at the level of civil society and political elites.
"The West has no right to ignore some crimes for the sake of fashionable slogans about others," — this message is close to both Ukrainian and Jewish communities, who know all too well the consequences of the world's inaction.
Main conclusions and current questions
- Genocide in Ukraine continues before the eyes of the whole world, but it does not become topic number one for Western leaders.
- Deportation, adoption, and Russification of Ukrainian children are not just war crimes but the direct destruction of a nation.
- The course towards recognizing Palestinian statehood is often used by the Western elite as a marker of progressiveness, distracting from real humanitarian catastrophes.
- Israel and Ukraine, despite different historical circumstances, find themselves in the same boat — they have to fight not only for their peoples but also for the truth on the international stage.
Our website NAnews — News of Israel continues to monitor the development of the situation on the fronts of the information and humanitarian war. For the Jewish audience of Israel, supporting Ukraine and understanding the price of real tragedies, this material is a reminder: genocide is not always where people shout about it the loudest.
Read also our other publications about the real consequences of the war in Ukraine, the stories of Jewish and Ukrainian families, and the fight for justice.
Who is Niall Ferguson?
Niall Ferguson is one of the most famous contemporary historians and publicists of British origin. He was born in 1964 in Scotland, graduated from Oxford, taught at leading universities around the world, including Harvard, Stanford, and the London School of Economics. Ferguson is widely known for his research on economic history, empires, and wars, as well as his vivid speeches on topical international issues.
The author of bestsellers “The Ascent of Money,” “Empire,” “Civilization,” and other books, he often appears as an expert on television and in major world publications. Ferguson has repeatedly criticized Western elites for double standards in international politics, including issues of support for Israel and Ukraine.
His works attract great attention from both academics and the general public thanks to bold and sometimes provocative conclusions about the past and future of world civilizations. https://nikk.agency/en/the-times-genocide/