United Nations investigators have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, saying the country’s leaders are responsible for trying to destroy the Palestinian people. The findings were released on Tuesday by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which said it had clear evidence that Israeli forces and officials were carrying out genocidal acts.
Commission chair Navi Pillay told reporters that “genocide is occurring in Gaza” and that the responsibility rests with the State of Israel. She added that the evidence should push global leaders to openly recognize the crisis as genocide. This marks the first time a UN-mandated inquiry has directly accused Israel of genocide.
The report states that since October 2023, Israel has committed four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention. These include killing Palestinians, inflicting serious bodily and mental harm, creating living conditions that ensure the destruction of the group, and imposing measures to prevent births. Investigators said the military’s actions, along with repeated statements from officials, clearly point to an intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group.
The commission specifically named Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of inciting genocide and failing to stop incitement among others in leadership.
Pillay emphasized that Israeli leaders at the highest level bear responsibility for what she called “atrocity crimes.” Fellow commissioner Chris Sidoti added that the Israeli people themselves have been betrayed by their government, saying Netanyahu’s actions have made peace and security almost impossible.
Israel immediately rejected the report, calling it “false and distorted.” The foreign ministry dismissed the findings and demanded the abolition of the Commission of Inquiry.
The report was released just as Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza City, where the UN has already declared a famine. UN rights chief Volker Turk stopped short of declaring genocide but warned that evidence was growing and said it would be for the courts to make a final judgment.
This development adds new pressure on Israel, already facing international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The report is expected to fuel further debate at the UN and in global courts about whether Israel’s actions meet the legal definition of genocide.
