GENEVA — A United Nations commission has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, saying the campaign aims to “destroy the Palestinians.”
The explosive report was released Tuesday by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI), led by Navi Pillay, a former UN human rights chief.
“Genocide is occurring in Gaza and is continuing to occur. The responsibility lies with the State of Israel,” Pillay said.
The report directly named Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of incitement and of failing to prevent or punish calls for mass violence.
Israel Rejects the Findings
Israel immediately condemned the report, calling it “distorted and false” and demanding that the commission be abolished. The Israeli foreign ministry argued that the COI was biased and politically motivated.
War and Its Toll
The commission’s findings come nearly two years after the war began in October 2023, when a Hamas attack inside Israel killed 1,219 people, most of them civilians.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since devastated Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, nearly 65,000 Palestinians have been killed—the majority civilians—numbers the UN considers reliable.
The war has also displaced almost the entire population of Gaza. Families have been forced to flee again and again, while famine has been declared in Gaza City.
Acts of Genocide Listed
The COI said Israeli forces have committed four out of five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention:
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Killing members of the group.
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Causing serious bodily or mental harm.
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Deliberately creating conditions meant to bring about destruction.
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Imposing measures to prevent births.
Investigators said both actions on the ground and public statements from top Israeli leaders show intent “to destroy Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a group.”
International Response and Pressure
While the COI is not a court, its reports can pressure governments and serve as evidence for future trials. Pillay confirmed the commission is cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), sharing thousands of documents.
Last year, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent incitement to genocide in Gaza. Months later, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Despite this, Israel has continued its campaign, and the commission warned that global silence could amount to complicity.
“The international community cannot stay silent,” Pillay said. “The absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity.”
A Divided World Stage
The UN itself has not officially labeled the situation a genocide, though senior officials have warned about genocidal rhetoric. Meanwhile, Israel remains firm in rejecting all accusations, backed by strong political allies.
The commission’s latest report, however, places fresh international pressure on Israeli leaders and raises urgent questions for world governments: Will they act—or remain silent as Gaza burns?
