A United Nations investigative panel has concluded that Israel has committed acts amounting to genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing “reasonable grounds” to believe that four of the five legally defined elements of genocide have been carried out since the war with Hamas began in 2023.
The findings, released Thursday by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, allege Israel is responsible for mass killings, severe physical and psychological harm, deliberate destruction of living conditions, and measures preventing births within the Palestinian population — acts the commission says are consistent with the Genocide Convention.
Led by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, the commission directly attributes responsibility to senior Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The report accuses them of “incitement to commit genocide,” citing public statements and the conduct of Israeli forces.
Among the cited evidence is Israel’s extensive use of heavy munitions in densely populated areas, the systematic destruction of schools, mosques, and hospitals, and the blockade of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medical aid. The panel also highlights the December 2023 Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s largest fertility clinic — which destroyed thousands of embryos and sperm samples — as an example of reproductive violence.
“Taken together, these acts reflect a pattern of behavior and rhetoric that supports a finding of genocidal intent,” the report said.
Israel Rejects Findings, Cites Hamas Atrocities
In a strongly worded response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the report as “distorted and false,” accusing the commission of bias and of acting as “a mouthpiece for Hamas.”
“In stark contrast to the lies in the report, Hamas is the party that attempted genocide in Israel — murdering 1,200 people, raping women, burning families alive, and openly declaring its goal of killing every Jew,” a spokesperson said, referencing the October 7, 2023, cross-border attack that triggered the war.
Israel maintains its military actions target Hamas, not civilians, and insists it operates within the bounds of international law.
Mounting Humanitarian Toll and International Pressure
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 64,900 people have been killed since Israeli air and ground operations began. More than 90% of residential buildings in Gaza have reportedly been damaged or destroyed, and infrastructure for healthcare, water, and sanitation has collapsed. Famine has been declared in parts of Gaza City by UN officials.
The commission said Netanyahu’s call for “mighty vengeance” after the Hamas attack and his description of Gaza as a “wicked city” reflected a mindset that held the entire population collectively responsible — a central theme in the commission’s genocide assessment.
Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, to which Israel is a signatory, the state is legally obligated to prevent, punish, and not perpetrate acts of genocide. The commission warned that other states, including Israel’s allies, also have a legal duty to act or risk being complicit.
“We are not yet naming co-conspirators,” Pillay said. “But this remains an open and urgent area of investigation.”
Legal Fallout and Global Repercussions
The commission’s findings come as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) weighs a separate genocide case brought by South Africa. Israel has dismissed those proceedings as “legally baseless” and “politically motivated.”
The new UN report adds pressure on Western nations to re-evaluate their military and diplomatic support for Israel, especially as humanitarian groups, UN officials, and international legal scholars continue to raise alarms about the scale of devastation in Gaza.
