A United Nations commission of inquiry says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“His use of the phrase ‘wicked city’ in the same statement implied that he saw the whole city of Gaza [Gaza City] as responsible and a target for vengeance.
The commission says the acts of Israeli political and military leaders are “attributable to the State of Israel”, and that the state therefore “bears responsibility for the failure to prevent genocide, the commission of genocide and the failure to punish genocide”.
A number of international and Israeli human rights organisations, independent UN experts, and scholars have also accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is meanwhile hearing a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israeli forces of genocide.
Israel has allegedly committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, according to a United Nations commission of inquiry.
Four of the five genocidal acts defined by international law have reportedly been committed since the war with Hamas began in 2023, according to a recent report: killing group members, seriously injuring their bodies and minds, purposefully creating conditions intended to destroy the group, and preventing births.
Statements made by Israeli leaders and the actions of Israeli forces are cited as proof of genocidal intent.
According to Israel’s foreign ministry, the report was “distorted and false” and was categorically rejected.
The three experts on the commission were accused by a spokesperson of being “Hamas proxies” and depending “entirely on Hamas falsehoods, laundered and repeated by others” that had “already been thoroughly debunked.”.
They continued, “Hamas is the party that attempted genocide in Israel – killing 1,200 people, raping women, burning families alive, and openly declaring its goal of killing every Jew.” This stands in sharp contrast to the report’s falsehoods.
On October 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the historic attack on southern Israel by Hamas, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostage-takings.
Since then, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed at least 64,905 people, according to the health ministry run by Hamas in the territory.
Additionally, the majority of the population has been displaced on multiple occasions; over 90% of homes are thought to have been damaged or destroyed; the water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have failed; and UN-backed food security experts have declared a famine in Gaza City.
In order to meet the Genocide Convention’s legal definition of genocide, it must also be proven that the perpetrator carried out any one of those acts with the express purpose of eradicating the group entirely or in part.
According to the commission, which examined remarks made by Israeli officials, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog have “incited the commission of genocide.”.
It further claims that the pattern of behavior of Israeli security forces and authorities in Gaza could only be interpreted as “genocidal intent.”.
The commission claims that the pattern of behavior includes enforcing a siege on Gaza and starving its citizens, systematically and extensively attacking religious, cultural, and educational sites, and purposefully killing and gravely injuring an unprecedented number of Palestinians with heavy weapons.
The Israeli government maintains that its objective is to destroy Hamas’s capabilities, not the Gaza population. It claims that its forces take all reasonable precautions to prevent harm to civilians and that they operate in compliance with international law.
In an interview with the BBC, Pillay stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu had pledged to exact “mighty vengeance” on “all of the places where Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble” as early as October 7, 2023.
He implied that he considered the entire city of Gaza [Gaza City] to be at fault and a target for retribution when he used the term ‘wicked city’ in the same sentence. “Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere,” he added, urging the Palestinians. “..”.
The facts alone will guide you, she continued, adding that it took us two years to compile all the actions and draw factual conclusions. Check to see if that actually occurred. Furthermore, the Genocide Convention only applies if the acts were committed with this intent. “.”.
According to the commission, Israel “bears responsibility for the failure to prevent genocide, the commission of genocide, and the failure to punish genocide” because the actions of its military and political leaders are “attributable to the State of Israel.”.
It also warns that all other nations must immediately “prevent and punish the crime of genocide” by using all available means, as required by the Genocide Convention. It claims that if they don’t, they might be complicit.
“To date, we have refrained from accusing individuals of being complicit in genocide or co-conspirators. That, however, is the commission’s ongoing task. They’ll arrive,” Pillay declared.
Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has also been charged by a number of independent UN experts, academics, and international and Israeli human rights organizations.
At the same time, South Africa is bringing a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israeli forces of genocide. The case has been described by Israel as “wholly unfounded” and predicated on “biased and false claims.”.
