UN commission of inquiry accuses Israel of genocide

BarcelonaA UN commission of inquiry has determined that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza with "the intent to destroy the Palestinian people." "We have concluded that genocide is taking place in Gaza and continues to take place, and the responsibility lies with the State of Israel." Navi Pillay, head of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, said on Tuesday. on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Pillay explained that the decision was based on statements and orders given by Israeli President Isaac Herzog; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; and Yoav Gallant, who was Israel's Defense Minister in October 2023. "These three individuals are agents of the state, which is why we say that the State of Israel has committed genocide."

The investigators, who analyzed the events from October 7, 2023, to July of this year, mention the scale of the massacres committed by Israel in Gaza, the blocking of humanitarian aid, forced displacement, and episodes such as the bombing of a fertility clinic. A crime that the 1948 Convention defines as "the attempt to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such." The commission has found proven four of the five acts that define genocide: murder, infliction of serious physical or mental harm, imposing conditions leading to the destruction of a people, or imposing measures to prevent births. All of these accusations were previously made by South Africa in January 2024 before the UN International Court of Justice, which opened a case against Israel for genocide. As usual, Israel dismissed the accusations as a "fabrication": "They are falsehoods by Hamas, laundered and repeated by others," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Pillay insisted that responsibility for the atrocities "lies at the highest levels of the Israeli authorities, who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for nearly two years with the specific intention of destroying the Palestinian people in Gaza." The report highlights that Israel has failed to prevent or punish the genocide because it has refused to investigate the reported events or prosecute those responsible. The commission calls on Israel to "immediately end the genocide," allow humanitarian aid to enter, and comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice. It also calls on the international community to take action, specifically to stop supplying arms to Israel.

All of this has been made public. As the Israeli army intensified its bombing of Gaza City tonight, the target of its final offensive on the Strip. Researchers call on UN member states to halt arms trade with Israel

The researchers are calling on UN member states to halt arms trade with Israel, including transfers of jet fuel and tanker fuel, and to use "all means at their disposal." They also call on them to ensure that no individuals or companies participating in genocide are on their territory and that they be held accountable.