On this significant day, a landmark report by a UN Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a finding Israel has vehemently rejected. Simultaneously, Israeli forces have launched an intensified ground offensive into Gaza City, escalating the ongoing conflict and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
UN Commission Concludes Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza
A comprehensive legal analysis released today by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, has found “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The report, based on a two-year investigation, states that Israeli authorities and security forces have carried out four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. These acts include killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission, stated that the evidence clearly indicates “an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention”. The Commission concluded that statements by Israeli civilian and military authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, provide “direct evidence of genocidal intent,” and that their actions demonstrate a “pattern of conduct” from which genocidal intent is the “only reasonable inference”. The report also finds that these leaders incited the commission of genocide and that Israeli authorities have failed to prevent or punish such incitement. The Commission asserts that the State of Israel bears responsibility for the failure to prevent genocide, the commission of genocide, and the failure to punish those responsible.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry categorically rejected the report, dismissing it as “distorted and false” and stating it was authored by “Hamas proxies”. The Commission has urged Israel and all states to fulfill their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible.
Israel Intensifies Ground Offensive in Gaza City
Coinciding with the release of the UN Commission’s findings, Israeli forces have launched the main stage of their long-anticipated ground offensive in Gaza City. This offensive marks a significant escalation after weeks of intensified bombardment and operations on the city’s outskirts. Palestinian residents have described the current bombardment as the most intense experienced in two years of conflict. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, “Gaza is burning,” emphasizing the IDF’s commitment to striking terrorist infrastructure to achieve the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas.
Reports from Gaza indicate that at least 40 people, many of them children, were killed in the initial hours of the assault in Gaza City, with airstrikes and tank incursions reported across several areas. Thousands of Palestinians are reportedly fleeing the intensified fighting, seeking refuge in southern and western areas, though concerns remain about the conditions in these displaced persons camps. The Israeli military stated that its troops are moving deeper into the city, with the aim of destroying Hamas infrastructure and ultimately freeing hostages.
Broader International Legal and Humanitarian Context
This critical day unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing international legal scrutiny and a dire humanitarian situation. The UN Commission’s investigation itself spanned two years, highlighting the extensive nature of the alleged violations. Amidst the hostilities, UNRWA reported that Israel has hit 10 of its buildings in Gaza City over the past four days, including seven schools and two clinics being used as shelters for thousands of displaced people. These actions underscore the widespread destruction and the peril faced by civilians and essential services.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has an ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories, which includes recent events in Gaza. In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel’s conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide, a case that has seen the ICJ issue preliminary measures ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts.
Despite these international legal proceedings and the UN Commission’s findings, Israel maintains its position, often citing its right to self-defense following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and arguing a lack of evidence for genocidal intent.
As the world today grapples with these grave allegations and the intensifying military operations, the scale of the crisis in Gaza raises urgent questions about international accountability, the protection of civilians, and the future of peace in the region. The findings from this UN Commission represent a significant moment in the global discourse surrounding the conflict, demanding immediate attention and action from the international community.