UN Commission Report on Gaza Sparks Strong Reactions
GENEVA: The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) has released a report stating that Israel’s actions in Gaza may amount to genocide, citing evidence of severe violations against Palestinians. The findings, presented by commission head Navi Pillay, argue that responsibility rests with the State of Israel and its leadership.
The report marks the first time a UN-mandated investigative body has reached such a conclusion. However, the UN itself has not officially declared the situation a genocide. UN rights chief Volker Turk said it would be up to international courts to make such a determination, while noting that evidence of serious violations “is mounting.”
Israel has rejected the report in its entirety, describing it as “distorted and false,” and has called for the commission to be abolished.
Key Findings of the Report
According to the COI, since October 2023, Israeli forces have carried out actions that align with four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention, including:
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Killing and causing serious harm to members of the group
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Inflicting conditions that threaten physical survival
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Preventing births within the community
The commission also stated that public remarks by senior Israeli leaders demonstrated incitement to commit such acts, naming President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant among those responsible.
Commissioner Chris Sidoti added that Israeli citizens have also “been betrayed by their government,” which, according to him, has made peace and security “almost impossible in the foreseeable future.”
Broader Context
The report comes nearly two years after the Gaza conflict began, during which the humanitarian situation has sharply deteriorated. The UN has already declared famine in parts of Gaza, while the latest findings highlight the urgent need for accountability and humanitarian relief.
