Genocide is defined as the intentional destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. It can be carried out through mass killings, forced sterilization, or other means aimed at eliminating a specific group of people. The Holocaust, which refers specifically to the genocide of the Jewish people during World War II, is a prominent example of genocide.
Holocaust is a term specifically used to refer to the genocide of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II. It involved systematic persecution, dehumanization, and extermination of the Jewish population. The Holocaust is considered one of the most heinous acts of genocide in human history.
Ethnic cleansing is the systematic and intentional removal of an ethnic group from a particular territory. It involves forced displacement, expulsion, or even extermination of a particular ethnic or religious group to create a more homogeneous society. Ethnic cleansing does not necessarily entail the complete annihilation of a group but aims to significantly alter the demographic composition of a region.
To summarize, genocide refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of a specific group of people, while the Holocaust refers specifically to the genocide of the Jewish people during World War II. Ethnic cleansing, on the other hand, involves the forced removal or extermination of an ethnic group from a territory. All three terms represent grave violations of human rights and international law.