Translated with AI
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has declared that Israel is responsible for committing "four genocidal acts" in the Gaza Strip, and that its political leaders incited genocide. This was announced by commission Chairperson Navi Pillay at a meeting of a UN General Assembly committee on Tuesday, October 28.
Presenting the commission's latest report, Pillay noted that the experts' findings were based on a legal analysis conducted in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. "We concluded that the State of Israel is responsible for committing four genocidal acts in Gaza with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians as such. The commission also found that the President, Prime Minister, and former Minister of Defense of Israel incited the commission of genocide," she stated.
According to Pillay, the former head of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the situation in Gaza constitutes "the most brutal, sustained, and widespread attack on the Palestinian people in history." The commission chair emphasized that despite the ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners, the Gaza Strip remains in ruins and is virtually uninhabitable.
Pillay noted that Israeli officials publicly supported plans for deportation, settlement construction, and territorial annexation. Although the temporary ceasefire put these plans on hold, recent statements by Israeli officials, she said, demonstrate that these goals remain valid.
The commission found that in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israel's policies since October 2023—along with its overt and covert support for settler violence—demonstrate an intent to forcibly displace Palestinians, expand the Israeli civilian presence, and annex most of the territory. The goal of this policy, according to Pillay, is to prevent Palestinian self-determination and statehood, and to maintain the indefinite occupation.
The Commission Chair called on UN Member States to ensure justice and accountability by supporting International Criminal Court investigations and the use of universal jurisdiction to prosecute suspects, including dual nationals.
"It pains me to acknowledge that in my final address as Commission Chair, I am forced to acknowledge that the post-war multilateral system failed to prevent this genocide. The international system has failed," Pillay said, adding that peace can only be restored through justice, truth, and reconciliation.
Also on Tuesday, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, addressed the General Assembly committee. She emphasized the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and called on member states to ensure the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all occupied territories, the dismantling of settlements, and the suspension of all military, trade, and diplomatic ties with Israel until the genocide, illegal occupation, and apartheid are ended.
Special rapporteurs and human rights experts appointed under the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council are independent and do not receive a salary for their work.
