UN: Israel committing genocide in Gaza

As a civilian flotilla heads for Gaza, the UN body cited mass killings, denial of medical care, starvation, displacement and civilian infrastructure destroyed

- Hasina Kathrada

In two historic developments on Gaza this week, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry in Geneva concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, while in the Mediterranean, the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying activists from 44 countries began its journey to challenge Israel’s blockade.

Both say Gaza’s devastation cannot be normalised and that international law must apply even when it unsettles the powerful. Each carries a distinctly South African imprint: compatriots at sea risk confrontation in defence of justice and a Durban-born jurist delivering the UN’s finding.

The commission, chaired by Navi Pillay, a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued its verdict after months of investigation. It said “genocidal acts are being committed against the Palestinian people”, citing mass killings, starvation as a weapon of war, forced displacement, denial of medical care and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Pillay described Israel’s assault as “the most ruthless, prolonged, widespread attack against the Palestinian people since 1948”.