Israel Accused of Genocide in Gaza by UN Commission of Inquiry

A United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, marking an unprecedented and highly charged finding amid nearly two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The report, published on September 16, 2025, asserts that Israeli authorities, including top officials, have executed actions with genocidal intent aimed at Palestinian civilians in Gaza, according to the 1948 Genocide Convention standard.

The 72-page report, commissioned by the U.N. Human Rights Council but operating independently from the U.N. itself, identifies four of the five acts defined as genocide that Israel has allegedly committed since October 7, 2023. This date marks the Hamas-led attacks on Israel that triggered Israel’s military response in Gaza. The acts include mass killings, inflicting serious physical and mental harm, deliberately imposing destructive living conditions, and obstructing births. Highlighted in the report are documented attacks on civilians, destruction of Gaza’s primary fertility clinic—resulting in the loss of thousands of embryos and sperm samples—and efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians.

Navi Pillay, chair of the commission and a former International Criminal Court judge, stated bluntly, “Genocide is occurring in Gaza.” She held Israeli government leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, responsible for inciting and coordinating these policies. “The culpability for these heinous crimes rests with the Israeli authorities at the highest levels, who have coordinated a genocidal initiative aimed at obliterating the Palestinian population”.

Since the conflict began, the Palestinian Health Ministry estimates that nearly 65,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, with a majority reportedly civilians, including many women and children. The commission’s report emphasizes the severe humanitarian impact, including the catastrophic destruction of infrastructure, lack of medical aid, and pervasive psychological trauma affecting Gaza’s population.

In stark response, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the report as “fabricated,” accusing the commission of bias and reliance on “Hamas falsehoods.” Israeli officials claim their military operations comply with international law and frame their actions as self-defense against a designated terrorist organization. They argue that Hamas’s violence against Israeli civilians since October 2023 constitutes the true crime in this conflict.

Expert observers note this report marks the most authoritative U.N.-linked allegation to date accusing Israel of genocide, greatly intensifying the international legal and political debate surrounding the war in Gaza. While the U.N. has yet to officially label the situation as genocide, this commission’s findings add mounting pressure for accountability and potential legal action under international law.

Eyewitness accounts from Gaza depict harrowing scenes of civilians enduring relentless airstrikes, destruction of homes and medical facilities, food and medicine shortages, and mass displacement—conditions the commission regards as calculated to destroy the Palestinian group “in whole or in part.” Human rights organizations have condemned the violence and urged immediate humanitarian relief and political solutions.

The commission’s call to the global community is clear: urgent intervention is needed to halt the genocide and hold accountable those responsible. The international community faces a critical juncture wherein diplomatic, humanitarian, and legal efforts must converge to address one of the gravest crises of our time.

Next steps include debates within the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council regarding official designation and response measures, potential international investigations or prosecutions for war crimes and genocide, and amplified diplomatic efforts to broker peace and protect civilians. The evolving situation remains a focal point of global concern, underscoring the urgent need for justice and humanitarian aid.

This historic UN inquiry report intensifies the spotlight on Israeli policies in Gaza, the resilience and suffering of Palestinians, and the international quest for accountability in a conflict fraught with profound human tragedy and geopolitical stakes.