UN commission finds 'clear evidence' Israel is carrying out genocide in Gaza

A UN commission has found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing tens of thousands of civilian deaths and massive destruction.

- Jason Burke Jon Henley

The independent international commission of inquiry (COI), which does not speak on behalf of the UN, found that “genocide is occurring in Gaza and is continuing to occur”.

Its head, Navi Pillay, said: “When clear signs and evidence of genocide emerge, the absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity. All states are under a legal obligation to use all means that are reasonably available to them to stop the genocide in Gaza.”

The COI, set up in 2021 and staffed by three independent experts, cited in support of its finding the killing of civilians and children in a “scorched-earth military strategy”, starvation and deaths caused by restrictions on food and medicines, mistreatment of detainees, forced displacement and the physical devastation of much of the territory.

It accused Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and other senior leaders of incitement to genocide and said there was clear evidence of their genocidal intent, a key legal requirement.

“The commission concludes that statements made by Israeli authorities are direct evidence of genocidal intent. The commission also concludes ... that genocidal intent was the only reasonable inference that can be drawn from the totality of the evidence,” said Pillay, a former UN human rights chief.