Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, says UN commission of inquiry

"Genocide is occurring in Gaza, said Navi Pillay, the head of the commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory and a former international criminal court judge. The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza."

"Israel categorically rejects this distorted and false report and calls for the immediate abolition of this commission of inquiry, a statement from the foreign ministry said. The commission's 72-page legal analysis is the strongest UN finding to date but the body is independent and does not officially speak for the UN. The UN has not yet used the term genocide but is under mounting pressure to do so."

"Israel is fighting a genocide case at the international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague. It rejects such accusations, citing its right to self-defence after the deadly 7 October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 being taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. The war in Gaza has killed more than 64,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, while a global hunger monitor says part of it is suffering from famine."

A UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel committed genocide in Gaza and identified top Israeli officials, including the prime minister, as having incited these acts. The commission cited large-scale killings, systematic aid blockages, forced displacement and the destruction of a fertility clinic as supporting evidence. Israel declined to cooperate, rejected the findings as distorted and false, and called for the commission's abolition. The commission produced a 72-page legal analysis described as the strongest UN finding to date, though the body is independent and does not speak for the UN. Israel is contesting genocide accusations at the ICJ and cites self-defence after the 7 October Hamas attack. Gaza authorities report over 64,000 deaths and parts of Gaza face famine.

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