GENEVA (AN) — An independent U.N. commission of inquiry has concluded that the Israeli government is responsible for committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, a finding that adds to the escalating pressure on Israel from the international community.
The report was issued on Tuesday as Israeli forces began a new ground incursion into Gaza City, a major military escalation nearly two years into the war. The offensive, which military officials said would "surround Gaza City from all sides," came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, "Gaza is burning," signaling a determined push to take control of the Palestinian territory's largest city.
The military escalation and U.N. report have further strained diplomatic relations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in the region for talks, commented on the grim reality of the conflict.
"We have to be prepared for the fact that a peaceful, diplomatic way to end it ... may not be possible," he said, adding that "we think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen."
He emphasized the U.S. priority is the release of all 48 hostages and defeat of Hamas: "That better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated."
The U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory found that Israeli authorities had committed four of the five acts of genocide outlined in the U.N. convention.
It cited "explicit statements" by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as evidence of an "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a group."
"The Commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza," said Navi Pillay, the chair of the commission and a former U.N. human rights chief. She added that the acts were committed with "an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention."
The commission's findings are likely to carry weight with the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. The commission called for Israel to immediately end its policy of starvation, lift the siege, and fully implement provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice.
It also recommended that all countries "cease the transfer of arms and other equipment" to Israel that could be used for genocidal acts and take action against any individuals or corporations involved.
Israel rejects findings, questions commission’s authority
The commission's findings were based on a detailed examination of both the actions on the ground and the stated intent of Israeli officials. The report found that from Oct. 7, 2023, to July 31, 2025, 60,199 Palestinians were killed, including 18,430 children and 9,735 women.
It cited a military expert who noted that in less than a week, Israel dropped a comparable number of bombs to what the U.S. used in a year in Afghanistan. The report also identified the imposition of a total siege and the use of starvation as a method of warfare as further evidence.
On the matter of intent, the commission concluded that explicit statements by Israeli civilian and military officials, alongside the pattern of military conduct, provided direct evidence.
The commission noted the use of religious and dehumanizing language by officials, including Netanyahu’s invocation of “Amalek" — a term from the Hebrew Bible referring to a historical, existential enemy of the Jewish people — had a particular resonance for religious military personnel.
Israel categorically rejected the report, calling it a "libelous rant" and a "distorted and false" document. The government said the commission grossly exceeded its mandate and is engaging in "lawfare" against Israel. It accused the commission of relying on "Hamas falsehoods" and failing to acknowledge the role of Hamas in the conflict.
The Israeli government also specifically countered the report's claim that an Israeli security official had focused on "maximum damage," saying the full quote was "maximum damage to Hamas military capabilities." Israel maintains its military operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas and that it is committed to minimizing civilian harm.
