Published 16/09/2025 16:06 | Edited 16/09/2025 18:37
An investigation committee of the United Nations (UN) said on Tuesday (16) that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war against Hamas in October 2023.
According to the new report, there are reasonable reasons to conclude that four of the five acts typified by the 1948 genocide prevention convention and repression of the crime were committed: killing members of a group, causing serious physical and mental damage, imposing conditions for partial or total destruction of the group and prevent births.
The document cites statements by Israeli leaders and the standard of conduct of the Armed Forces as evidence of a genocidal intention.
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War context
Israel’s last genocide wave was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked the south of the country, in an act of resistance against exterminations and bombings of previous years against the Palestinian population. In response, the Israeli army launched an offensive of great proportions against Gaza.
Since then, at least 64,905 people have died in Israeli attacks, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health. More than 90% of homes were destroyed or damaged, and health, water and sanitation systems collapsed. International organisms have already confirmed the existence of hunger in Gaza.
Evidence cited by the Commission
The 72-page report states that Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and then Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, incited genocidal practices.
Among the statements cited are Gallant speeches by calling Palestinians “human animals” and Herzog blaming “an entire nation” for Hamas attacks. Netanyahu, in turn, promised to reduce Gaza to “rubble” shortly after October 7.
The commission maintains that the genocidal intention is the “only reasonable inference” from the actions and discourses of the Israeli authorities.
International responsibility
According to experts, acts are “attributable to the state of Israel”, which would have failed to prevent, punish and prevent continuity of genocide. The report also warns that all other signatory countries of the 1948 Convention have an immediate obligation to act to prevent and punish the crime.
At the same time, the International Court of Justice (CIJ) analyzes an action presented by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The Israeli government rejects the accusations and considers them “unfounded and biased.”
What is genocide according to the UN?
The Convention for the Prevention and Repression of Genocide Crime was approved in 1948, after the Holocaust, and defines genocide as the intention to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
The five acts provided for in the Convention:
- Group members
- Cause serious physical or mental damage
- Impose living conditions for partial or total destruction of the group
- Adopt measures to prevent birth
- TRANSFER CHILDREN FOR FORCE FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER
What the UN Commission says
According to the report released on September 16, 2025, Israel would have committed four of these five acts against Palestinians in Gaza:
- Mass murders and civil attacks (act 1).
- Severe injuries, forced displacements and environmental destruction (act 2).
- Hunger, blockade of basic services and destruction of housing (act 3).
- Attack to the fertility clinic, preventing births (act 4).
Importance of the report
- Recognition of genocidal intention is central: without it, acts could be classified only as war crimes or crimes against humanity.
- All convention signatory countries have a legal duty to prevent and punish genocide.
- The case can make way for international accountability of the State of Israel and its political and military leaders.
Source: vermelho.org.br
