A United Nations commission of inquiry has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing evidence of four out of the five acts of genocide defined under international law.
The 72-page report, released this week, alleges that since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Israeli forces have engaged in actions that amount to genocide:
- Killing members of the group,
- Inflicting serious bodily and mental harm,
- Deliberately creating conditions intended to destroy the group,
- Preventing births.
The commission pointed to statements by Israeli leaders and patterns of military conduct as indicators of genocidal intent.
Israel’s foreign ministry strongly dismissed the allegations, calling the report “baseless, distorted, and Hamas propaganda.” Officials insisted that military operations in Gaza are acts of self-defence aimed at defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
An Israeli military spokesperson argued that “no other country has operated in such conditions while doing so much to protect civilians.”
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The UN reports that over 90% of homes are damaged or destroyed, health and sanitation systems have collapsed, and famine conditions have been declared in parts of Gaza.
The inquiry, led by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, accused top Israeli leaders — including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant — of making statements that “incited genocide.”
For example, Netanyahu’s vow to unleash “mighty vengeance” and Gallant’s reference to Palestinians as “human animals” were cited as evidence of intent.
The report concludes that these actions are attributable to the State of Israel, which “bears responsibility for failing to prevent and punish genocide.”
The commission also reiterated that Hamas and other Palestinian groups committed war crimes on October 7, 2023, when militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in southern Israel.
While the inquiry is the strongest UN-backed finding to date, it does not speak officially for the United Nations. Legal determination of genocide can only be made by a competent international court.
Currently, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, though a final ruling could take years.
Global Reactions
- The UK government said it was for the courts to decide but described Israel’s actions as “appalling.”
- UN human rights chief Volker Türk noted that “evidence is mounting” but reiterated that only courts can legally define genocide.
- Israel has called the ICJ case “wholly unfounded.”
The commission urged the international community to act, warning that states could be complicit if they fail to prevent or punish genocide under international law.
