UN Commission Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza
A comprehensive report from the United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel alleges that Israeli authorities have deliberately carried out “acts inflicting death and severe bodily and mental harm on hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children.” The commission states that these actions form part of a strategy intended to destroy the future of Palestinians in Gaza by targeting their children.
The findings come after Haifa‑city residents witnessed Israeli forces deploying precision drones, snipers and high‑impact weapons on schools, residential buildings and displacement camps. The commission also cites systematic strikes on neonatal and pediatric hospitals that have undermined access to lifesaving care for Gaza’s young population.
Since the October 2023 conflict, the United Nations’ Gaza health ministry reports over 73,000 deaths, including more than 21,280 children. The commission’s analysis confirms those figures, noting that child casualties remain high even after ceasefire negotiations.
Israel’s foreign ministry has outright rejected the report, describing it as a “libellous sham” and “a propaganda piece as outrageous as its previous ones.” It claims that its military operations are defensive responses to Hamas’ attacks and compliant with international law.
In response, the commission’s chair, Srinivasan Muralidhar, stresses that “protecting Palestinian children is inseparable from the Palestinian people’s right to self‑determination.” The report warns that ignoring child protection equates to attacking the very capacity of the Palestinian people to survive and decide their future.
Beyond immediate conflict zones, the inquiry notes that Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank have failed to protect children from targeting and detention, citing incidents of torture and sexual violence. It also highlights Israel’s use of starvation tactics, restricting humanitarian aid and causing chronic malnutrition among Gaza’s children.
The report calls for an urgent international review, urging the UN and the International Court of Justice to pursue accountability. Israel dismisses the report as biased, labeling the legal case brought by South Africa as “wholly unfounded.”
For further context, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s earlier 2021 commission also documented war crimes committed by Palestinian armed groups, while its 2023 report had already warned of genocide in Gaza.
