A United Nations investigative body has concluded that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians during its ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The finding, contained in a 72-page report released Tuesday, is described as the UN’s most definitive assessment yet of the war, which erupted in October 2023.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 64,964 people have been killed in Israeli bombardments and military operations since the conflict began.
The UN commission, chaired by Navi Pillay, former UN human rights chief and ex-president of the tribunal on Rwanda’s genocide, determined that Israel carried out four of the five genocidal acts listed under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
These acts include mass killings, inflicting serious physical and psychological harm, deliberately imposing conditions designed to destroy a population, and measures to prevent births.
“The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest levels, who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for nearly two years with the intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza,” Pillay stated.
READ ALSO: Israeli Military Approves Gaza City Offensive Framework Amid Rising Global Concern
Joining Pillay on the three-member panel were Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti and Indian housing rights expert Miloon Kothari.
The report further accuses Israel of failing to investigate or prosecute those responsible for alleged genocidal acts.
The release of the findings coincides with Israel’s latest ground offensive in Gaza, with troops advancing into Gaza City.
Other cities, including Rafah and Khan Younis, have already suffered widespread destruction from Israeli strikes and demolitions.
Israel’s foreign ministry swiftly dismissed the report, calling it “distorted and false,” and rejected the genocide allegations.