A United Nations commission has ruled that Israel’s military operations in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide.
This is one of the strongest global criticisms of the conflict, which has taken tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and caused massive destruction.
Heavy Toll on Civilians
The report highlights the severe impact on Gaza’s people and infrastructure. After months of investigation, the three-member Commission of Inquiry said Israel committed four of the five acts listed under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The findings cite a total blockade of Gaza that blocks humanitarian aid and causes widespread hunger. They also mention the collapse of the healthcare system and repeated attacks on children as proof of deliberate harm.
Leaders Held Responsible
The commission names Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog as responsible for creating conditions that enable these acts.
According to the report, these policies come directly from top leadership.
Israel Rejects the Report
Israel quickly dismissed the findings, calling the report biased and false. Officials accused the panel of acting as a Hamas mouthpiece and described the charges as a modern-day “blood libel.” They stressed that military operations target Hamas fighters, not civilians.
Urgent Global Action
The commission, led by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, has no enforcement powers. However, it urged immediate international action.
Its recommendations include halting arms sales to Israel and limiting business activities that might support the conflict. Pillay warned that ignoring clear signs of genocide amounts to complicity.
Death Toll Rising
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 64,000 people have died in the conflict. This staggering figure adds urgency to the commission’s recommendations and increases pressure for a diplomatic solution to the worsening humanitarian crisis.
