UN Probe Classifies Israel’s Gaza Offensive as Genocide
Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza City on Tuesday as a United Nations commission of inquiry released a damning report accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians.
The strikes, which witnesses described as some of the heaviest in weeks, hit residential areas and already-damaged infrastructure, leaving dozens dead and many more injured.
The Israeli military said its operations targeted Hamas positions and were necessary for national security.
The UN commission, established by the Human Rights Council and chaired by former UN rights chief Navi Pillay, alleged that Israel has carried out four of the five acts defined as genocide under international law.
These include killing members of the Palestinian population, inflicting serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately imposing conditions of life aimed at destroying the group, and preventing births.
According to the report, senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, made statements that amounted to incitement to genocide.
The commission also cited the destruction of health facilities, food blockades, and the targeting of residential areas as evidence of deliberate actions to make Gaza uninhabitable.
Israel has rejected the findings, calling the report “false, biased and politically motivated.”
Officials insist military operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas, which launched a deadly cross-border attack in October 2023, sparking the latest round of conflict.
The accusations come as humanitarian groups warn of worsening conditions in Gaza, with hospitals overwhelmed, food supplies scarce, and displaced families trapped in overcrowded shelters.
The International Court of Justice is separately considering a genocide case brought by South Africa, while the International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes.
The report is likely to fuel further debate within the international community, with calls for accountability on one side and strong backing for Israel’s right to self-defense on the other.
