In a pivotal report released amidst escalating Israeli military operations in Gaza City, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory—including East Jerusalem and Israel—has called upon Israel and the international community to adhere to their legal obligations to “end the genocide” and hold accountable those responsible. Navi Pillay, the Chair of the Commission, stated, “The Commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza.” She further emphasized the apparent intention behind Israeli actions to eradicate the Palestinian population in Gaza, aligning with the definitions established by the Genocide Convention.
Israel's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Danny Meron, vehemently rejected the Commission's findings, describing them as selective and biased. He argued that the comprehensive 70-plus page report fosters a narrative that aids Hamas and its supporters in their attempts to delegitimize the state of Israel. Meron asserted that the allegations of genocidal intent against Israel are unfounded and lack substantiation.
During a press conference in Geneva, Commission members Ms. Pillay and Chris Sidoti—who are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council's 47 Member States, rather than UN staff—shared insights from their investigations into the conflict in Gaza. They concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces had committed four out of the five genocidal acts outlined in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. These acts include killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life aimed at the destruction of the Palestinian population, and imposing measures to prevent births.
Ms. Pillay asserted that the accountability for these grave crimes lies with the highest echelons of Israeli authorities, citing explicit statements that demean Palestinians by both civilian and military officials. The Commission's investigation also scrutinized the actions of Israeli security forces in Gaza, highlighting the imposition of starvation and inhumane living conditions for Palestinians. They concluded that the evidence suggests a clear genocidal intent behind these military operations.
The Commission's findings are bolstered by a thorough review of the extensive Israeli military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in unprecedented casualties among the Palestinian population. Reports indicate that nearly one million individuals remain trapped in Gaza City, facing confirmed famine conditions, daily bombings, and severely restricted access to essential resources following a total siege imposed by Israeli forces. The UN’s aid coordination body, OCHA, has emphasized the dire humanitarian situation on the ground.
Furthermore, the Commission highlighted the systematic destruction of healthcare and educational facilities in Gaza, alongside acts of sexual and gender-based violence directed at Palestinians. This comprehensive assessment raises alarm regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for international intervention.
The Commission of Inquiry also reviewed allegations of the direct targeting of children and Israel’s blatant disregard for the rulings of the International Court of Justice, which in March 2024 mandated Israel to ensure the unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Ms. Pillay urged the global community not to remain silent in the face of what she described as a genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people. “When clear signs and evidence of genocide emerge, the absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity,” she stated, urging all nations to utilize all available means to halt the genocide in Gaza.
In a related development, the Human Rights Council has adjusted its agenda to facilitate an urgent debate regarding the recent Israeli strike on Hamas's political leadership in Qatar. This strike, which took place in a neighborhood of Doha, reportedly resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including five Hamas members, drawing widespread condemnation from various international bodies, including the Security Council.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty, while the UN’s political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, highlighted the attack as a serious threat to regional peace and security, undermining ongoing international mediation efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.
