UN Commission Alleges Israel Committed Genocide in Gaza

A United Nations commission of inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing “reasonable grounds” for believing that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have occurred since the outbreak of the conflict with Hamas in 2023. The findings from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, led by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, highlight evidence including killings, serious bodily and mental harm, and deliberate actions creating life-threatening conditions.

The inquiry specifically names Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as individuals who have incited actions amounting to genocide. The report details mass killings attributed to the use of heavy munitions, the systematic destruction of religious and cultural sites, and the ongoing siege that has left Gaza’s population without essential resources such as food, water, electricity, and medical care.

One particularly alarming incident referenced in the report is the December 2023 attack on Gaza’s largest fertility clinic, which resulted in the destruction of thousands of embryos and sperm samples, illustrating what the commission calls reproductive violence.

In response to the inquiry’s conclusions, Israel’s foreign ministry has dismissed the report as “distorted and false.” A spokesperson for the ministry accused the three-member panel of acting as “Hamas proxies” and relying on what they termed “falsehoods” that have been “thoroughly debunked.” The spokesperson stated, “In stark contrast to the lies in the report, Hamas is the party that attempted genocide in Israel, murdering 1,200 people and openly declaring its goal of killing every Jew.”

The commission asserts that the intent to commit genocide can be reasonably inferred from Israel’s actions. Pillay remarked on Netanyahu’s statement of “mighty vengeance” following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, emphasizing that such rhetoric targets entire communities. She noted, “His use of the phrase ‘wicked city’ implied he saw the whole city as responsible and a target for vengeance.”

According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli strikes since the onset of the war have resulted in over 64,905 fatalities. The humanitarian crisis is dire, with more than 90% of homes damaged or destroyed, and healthcare systems on the brink of collapse. UN experts have declared that famine conditions now exist in Gaza City.

The commission highlighted the responsibilities outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention, stating that Israel bears responsibility for both the actions taken and the failure to prevent or punish acts of genocide. Pillay warned that other nations also have a binding duty to act, or they risk complicity. She added, “We have not gone so far as to name parties as co-conspirators, or being complicit in genocide. But that is the ongoing work of this commission. They will get there.”

Israel continues to maintain that its military operations target Hamas and are in compliance with international law. Nonetheless, the findings of the inquiry contribute to a growing body of accusations from international human rights organizations and UN experts. Additionally, the International Court of Justice is currently considering a case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of genocide—a claim that Israel categorically denies, labeling it “wholly unfounded.”