A United Nations commission of inquiry has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, publishing its findings on Tuesday in Geneva. The report, which has already drawn sharp international reaction, alleges that Israel has carried out four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
According to the commission, Israel has engaged in acts of killing, inflicting serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately creating conditions of life intended to bring about the destruction of Palestinians, and imposing measures aimed at preventing births. These actions, it said, collectively meet the threshold of genocide.
At a press briefing, Navi Pillay, chair of the commission, was unequivocal:
“The commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza,”
she said.
“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 report asserts that Israeli authorities at the highest levels of government were responsible for what it described as a calculated and coordinated campaign. Pillay directly linked leadership figures to what she called “atrocity crimes,” claiming they had orchestrated policies with the explicit aim of eliminating the Palestinian population in Gaza.
In its assessment, the commission stated that starvation and inhumane living conditions were deliberately imposed on Palestinians. It concluded that:
“Genocidal intent was the only reasonable inference.”
The inquiry went further, citing the destruction of healthcare and education infrastructure, and alleged that sexual and gender-based violence had been used systematically as a weapon against Palestinians. The report criticised Israeli authorities for failing to investigate or prosecute individuals responsible for genocidal acts.
Pillay emphasised that responsibility extended beyond those carrying out military orders:
“Israeli authorities at the highest echelons have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza.”
The commission urged Israel to immediately cease actions it described as genocidal. It further called on UN member states to halt the transfer of arms to Israel and to hold accountable any individuals or companies deemed complicit. It noted that prosecuting complicity in genocide is a legal obligation under international law.
The Israeli government strongly rejected the report. The Foreign Ministry denounced the findings as fabricated, stating they were the work of biased investigators. A spokesperson dismissed the report as:
“Fake,”
accusing its authors of acting as:
“Hamas proxies,”
and calling for the panel’s:
“Immediate abolition.”
Officials in Jerusalem argue that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is aimed at dismantling Hamas, not the Palestinian population, and insist that claims of genocide are politically motivated.
The latest escalation traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise assault on southern Israel. Approximately 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken captive. In retaliation, Israel launched a wide-scale military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll has now risen to 64,905. Israel disputes these figures, insisting many of the dead were combatants, though the ministry has not differentiated between fighters and civilians.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces launched a ground offensive into Gaza City, a territory that had until recently remained outside of Israel Defense Forces control. The operation followed weeks of intense aerial bombardments and the Security Cabinet’s decision to authorise the seizure of the city.
