UN Concludes Israel's War in Gaza Amounts to Genocide

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations has issued a 72-page report concluding that Israel's war in Gaza constitutes genocide. The report, published by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, assesses that Israel is committing genocide as defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention. The commission found that Israel has committed four out of the five genocidal acts listed in the convention, including killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinians in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent births.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has concluded that Israel's war in Gaza constitutes genocide, as defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention.
  • The commission found that Israel has committed four out of the five genocidal acts listed in the convention, including killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinians in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent births.
  • No evidence of the forcible removal of children was found, which is the fifth genocidal act listed in the 1948 convention.
  • The report names Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, and Isaac Herzog, as having incited the commission of genocide in Gaza.
  • The commission has been tracking events in Gaza since the October 7 massacre two years ago, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage.
  • The report is expected to bolster the case brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for genocide.

Statistics:

  • 72-page report published by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
  • 192 countries are parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention.
  • October 7 massacre two years ago resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages.
  • The report concludes that Israel has committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention.

Sources:

  • Report by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
  • Press release by the United Nations Office at Geneva.
  • Axios reporting on the Israeli military's new ground invasion.
  • Letter by David Lammy, then-UK Foreign Secretary, published earlier this month.