A United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) commission of independent experts has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, urging the international community to intervene and hold those responsible accountable. The report, released Tuesday, is the latest in a series of accusations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government amid the ongoing war with Hamas, which has killed tens of thousands. Israel rejected the report as “distorted and false.”
The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, established four years ago, has consistently documented alleged human rights violations in Gaza and other Palestinian territories. While the commission and the HRC cannot directly take action against countries, the findings could inform investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Genocide Determination
After extensive legal analysis, the commission concluded that Israel has committed four of the five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention, including:
- Killing members of the group
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm
- Imposing measures to prevent births in the group
- Deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction
The only criterion not met was the forcible transfer of children.
“The Commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza,” said Navi Pillay, commission chair and former U.N. human rights chief. “There is clear intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”
The commission specifically cited Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as inciting genocide, though it did not assess the involvement of other leaders.
Context and Evidence
The team based its findings on:
- Death toll and civilian casualties
- Israel’s total siege and blockade of Gaza
- Systematic destruction of healthcare infrastructure
- Targeting of children
- Explicit statements and actions by Israeli civilian and military authorities
Commission member Chris Sidoti emphasized that Israeli citizens have been “betrayed” by their government, which has failed to protect hostages and allowed ongoing “genocidal war” while manipulating national trauma.
Israel’s Response
Israel, citing its founding after the Holocaust, strongly rejected the report:
“Israel categorically rejects this distorted and false report,” said the Foreign Ministry. The statement accused the commission of bias and labeled the findings a “fake report” released by individuals aligned with Hamas.
Call to Action
The commission urged the international community to halt weapons transfers to Israel and prevent actions that could contribute to genocide in Gaza.
“When clear signs and evidence of genocide emerge, the absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity,” Pillay stated.
Currently, the International Court of Justice is reviewing a genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel, with additional countries, including Spain, Mexico, and Libya, requesting to join the proceedings.
