UN Commission Finds Israel Committed Genocide in Gaza, Urges Global Accountability

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel has released its most damning findings yet, concluding that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. After nearly two years of investigations into the events since 7 October 2023, the Commission determined that Israeli authorities and security forces carried out four of the five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention, and did so with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group.

Acts of Genocide Identified

The Commission found Israel responsible for committing:

• Killing members of the group in unprecedented numbers through sustained military campaigns.

• Causing serious bodily and mental harm, with large-scale injuries, trauma, and destruction of health systems.

• Deliberately inflicting life-destroying conditions, including starvation, lack of medical care, and siege-induced deprivation.

• Imposing measures intended to prevent births, including deliberate policies undermining access to reproductive health.

The only genocidal act not fully substantiated was the forcible transfer of children, though evidence of systemic harm to children was overwhelming.

Establishing Genocidal Intent

The Commission emphasized that explicit statements by Israeli civilian and military leaders, combined with the pattern of military operations, proved genocidal intent. Applying the “only reasonable inference” test set forth by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Bosnia v. Serbia, the Commission concluded that Israel’s conduct could not be explained as anything other than an intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinian group in Gaza.

Chair Navi Pillay stated: “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention. The responsibility lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons, who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years.”

Evidence of Atrocity Crimes

The Commission’s findings draw on an extensive body of prior investigations, eyewitness accounts, and international legal assessments. Key evidence includes:

• Military operations targeting civilians, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and mass injuries.

• Total siege of Gaza, blocking food, water, fuel, and humanitarian aid.

• Systematic destruction of healthcare and education systems, crippling civilian life.

• Widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

• Deliberate targeting of children, resulting in Gaza having the world’s highest number of child amputees.

• Attacks on cultural and religious sites, erasing Palestinian heritage.

• Defiance of ICJ provisional orders, showing no willingness to alter course despite global warnings.

Responsibility of Israeli Leaders

The report directly attributes responsibility to the State of Israel and specifically cites President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for inciting genocide. The Commission noted that no serious steps have been taken to prosecute or punish officials, and urged further investigation into other Israeli leaders for incitement.

International Legal Obligations

The Commission declared that Israel bears state responsibility not only for committing genocide but also for failing to prevent or punish genocidal acts. It stressed that all UN Member States have legal obligations under international law to prevent and halt genocide, regardless of their alliances or political positions.

Among its key recommendations:

• Immediate cessation of genocide and compliance with ICJ orders.

• End of starvation policies and lifting of the siege on Gaza.

• Unimpeded humanitarian access, including for UNRWA, OHCHR, and international agencies.

• Cessation of arms transfers and military assistance to Israel that could facilitate genocidal acts.

• Accountability measures, including domestic and international legal proceedings against individuals, corporations, and governments complicit in genocide or incitement.

A Call to the International Community

The Commission’s warning was unambiguous: continued inaction makes the international community complicit.

“The international community cannot stay silent on the genocidal campaign launched by Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. When clear signs and evidence of genocide emerge, the absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity,” Pillay said. “Every day of inaction costs lives and erodes the credibility of the international community.”

A Defining Moment for Global Justice

This report marks the first time a UN investigative body has formally concluded that Israel is committing genocide. It places immense pressure on states to uphold their obligations under the Genocide Convention and international law. If ignored, the report warns, not only will Palestinian lives continue to be destroyed, but global trust in the international legal system will face irreparable damage.