By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A UN commission of inquiry has concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing reasonable grounds to believe four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the war. The report highlights statements by Israeli leaders and the pattern of conduct by Israeli forces as evidence of genocidal intent. This includes actions such as killing members of a group, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births. The Israeli foreign ministry has vehemently rejected the report, labeling it as “distorted and false,” while the commission maintains its findings are the strongest and most authoritative to date.
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Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, a conclusion reached by a UN commission of inquiry, is a stark reality, emerging from the fog of war and competing narratives. It’s a heavy claim, and the recent report, backed by evidence, suggests that actions by Israeli authorities and forces warrant such a grave designation. The commission’s findings are based on a thorough examination of the situation, and it seems they’ve found reasonable grounds to believe that Israel has carried out several genocidal acts, as defined by international law, since the onset of the conflict with Hamas in 2023.
Specifically, the UN report points to the killing of members of the Palestinian group, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions aimed at destroying the group, and even imposing measures to prevent births. This is a grim picture, painted by the commission’s research, and it raises serious questions about the conduct of the war. The evidence includes statements from Israeli leaders and patterns of behavior by Israeli forces on the ground, painting a troubling picture of intent.
Of course, the Israeli government vehemently rejects these findings, labeling the report as biased and false. It accuses the commission members of being aligned with Hamas and relying on unsubstantiated claims. They counter the findings with their own narrative, emphasizing Hamas’s attacks on October 7th, 2023, and the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, and highlighting Hamas’s openly stated goal of killing all Jews. However, this is where the conflict lies, with two competing narratives about the intent and actions of each side.
Regardless of perspectives, the scale of destruction in Gaza is undeniable. Since October 7th, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of at least 64,905 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. That’s a horrific statistic, and it doesn’t account for the injuries, trauma, and displacement suffered by the vast majority of Gaza’s population. Over 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed. Healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed. Moreover, food security experts have declared a famine in Gaza City.
The UN commission, established in 2021, has a mandate to investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Their most recent report meticulously outlines the alleged acts of genocide, including attacks on protected objects, targeting civilians, and deliberate actions leading to deaths. The report also highlights the infliction of serious bodily and mental harm through attacks, mistreatment, forced displacement, and environmental destruction.
Crucially, the report also emphasizes the deliberate creation of conditions designed to bring about the destruction of the Palestinian group. This includes the destruction of essential infrastructure, the denial of medical services, the obstruction of aid, and the use of reproductive violence. The commission’s findings are chilling, and the world must seriously consider its implications.