UN Commission accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, foreign ministry rejects findings
A United Nations independent international commission of inquiry has concluded that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, delivering what the panel described as the “strongest and most authoritative UN finding to date” on the ongoing conflict.
The three-member expert commission released its 72-page report on Tuesday, following a two-year investigation into events that have unfolded since fighting began in October 2023. At least 64,964 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza during this period, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The UN commission determined that Israeli authorities and security forces committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. These include:
- Killing members of the Palestinian group
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm
- Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of Palestinians in whole or in part
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births
The expert panel is chaired by Navi Pillay, a South African former UN human rights chief who previously served as president of the international tribunal on Rwanda’s genocide. The commission also includes Chris Sidoti, an Australian human rights lawyer, and Miloon Kothari, an Indian expert on housing and land rights.
“The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza,” Pillay stated in presenting the findings.
The commission also criticised Israel’s failure to prevent and prosecute genocidal acts, noting the country’s inadequate investigation of alleged crimes and lack of prosecution of suspected perpetrators.
“The Commission also finds that Israel has failed to prevent and punish the commission of genocide, through failure to investigate genocidal acts and to prosecute alleged perpetrators,” the report concluded.
The report’s release coincided with Israel launching a new ground offensive in Gaza, marking what observers describe as a pivotal moment in the conflict. Until this latest military action, Gaza City remained one of the few areas in the besieged enclave not yet occupied by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Other major population centres in Gaza, including Rafah and Khan Younis, have been largely destroyed through Israeli airstrikes and systematic demolitions, according to international observers and local reports.
Israel’s foreign ministry categorically rejected the UN commission’s conclusions, denouncing the report as “distorted and false.” The ministry’s response reflects Israel’s consistent position that its military operations in Gaza constitute legitimate self-defence actions rather than genocidal conduct.
The commission’s findings carry significant weight in international legal circles, given the extensive investigation period and the credentials of the expert panel members. However, the report represents an investigative conclusion rather than a binding legal judgment, which would require proceedings at the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court.
The genocide determination adds to mounting international pressure on Israel regarding its conduct in Gaza, while also intensifying debates about the application of international humanitarian law in contemporary conflicts.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, has resulted in widespread destruction across Gaza and significant casualties on both sides. The UN commission’s genocide finding represents the most serious international legal accusation levelled against Israel’s military campaign to date.
As the conflict continues with no immediate resolution in sight, the commission’s report is likely to influence ongoing international diplomatic efforts and legal proceedings related to the Gaza war.
