UN Inquiry Says Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza
A United Nations commission has concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, accusing the state of four out of five acts defined under the Genocide Convention. The panel, led by former UN rights chief Navi Pillay, cited both the conduct of Israeli forces and statements from top leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog as evidence of genocidal intent. The report claims that Israel has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, inflicted mass suffering, blocked humanitarian aid, and even targeted reproductive infrastructure.
The report outlines shocking examples of civilian targeting, including bombings of homes, hospitals, and schools. It also documents cases of children and detainees allegedly being tortured or killed. “The essence of childhood has been destroyed in Gaza,” one doctor said in the report, which also detailed starvation, reproductive violence, and systemic destruction of basic infrastructure as part of a broader pattern of destruction.
The Israeli government has strongly denied the findings, calling the report “distorted and false.” Its foreign ministry accused the commission of relying on “Hamas falsehoods” and labeled its members “Hamas proxies.” Israeli officials insist that their military campaign, launched after the October 7th Hamas-led attacks, is lawful and aimed solely at defeating militants. They maintain that every effort is made to avoid civilian casualties, despite widespread international criticism and reports of massive civilian harm.
Global voices are growing louder. Human rights groups, genocide scholars, and even some US senators have echoed warnings that Israel may be committing ethnic cleansing. The International Court of Justice is already reviewing a genocide case brought by South Africa, and the UN commission has urged countries to act now, warning: “The genocide in Gaza is unfolding in real time.”
