A recent United Nations report from Geneva has concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, being accused of inciting these acts. The report highlights instances of extensive killings, aid blockades, forced displacements, and the destruction of essential facilities as evidence supporting the genocide finding. Navi Pillay, who heads the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and is a former judge at the International Criminal Court, stated that “genocide is occurring in Gaza” and attributed the responsibility to Israeli authorities at the highest levels for orchestrating a genocidal campaign over nearly two years.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Daniel Meron, dismissed the report as “scandalous” and “fake,” alleging that it was crafted by “Hamas proxies.” Israel has vehemently rejected the accusations and labeled the report as defamatory. Israel initiated a ground offensive in Gaza City on the same day the report was released and has accused the commission of having a biased political agenda against Israel, leading to a lack of cooperation with the inquiry.
The UN Commission’s 72-page legal analysis represents its strongest stance to date on the issue, though it operates independently and does not officially represent the United Nations. While the UN has not explicitly used the term genocide, pressure is mounting for such a declaration. Additionally, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned Israel’s recent attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar as a “shocking breach of international law” that undermines regional peace and stability.
Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, stemming from its actions in response to a deadly Hamas attack in 2023. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in a significant number of casualties, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 64,000 deaths, and some parts of the region experiencing severe food shortages.
The UN Genocide Convention, established after the Holocaust, defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group either wholly or partially. The commission’s findings indicate that Israel has committed four of the five acts constituting genocide, supported by victim testimonies, medical reports, and satellite imagery analysis.
The report also highlights statements made by Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, as evidence of genocidal intent. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and former defense minister Yoav Gallant are also named in the report. South Africa’s Pillay drew parallels between the situation in Gaza and the Rwandan genocide, emphasizing the dehumanization of victims as a commonality.
While the International Court of Justice has referenced Israeli actions in Gaza previously, the report by the UN Commission aims to raise awareness and prompt action from the international community.
