On Wednesday, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released a report that concluded Israel committed crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza. The report also highlighted that both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes during the conflict that began on October 7 following an attack by Hamas inside Israeli territory.
The committee’s investigation found that Israel was responsible for committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. The report noted that there was a deliberate and direct attack on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, targeting Palestinian men and boys through acts such as genocide, forced transfer, and torture.
Israel promptly rejected the report’s findings, accusing the committee of bias and claiming that its actions were politically motivated. However, Navi Pillay, the head of the committee, emphasized the urgency of stopping military operations in Gaza and called for Hamas and Palestinian armed groups to cease rocket attacks and release hostages.
The focus of the committee’s investigation was on the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, with members emphasizing accountability for all those who committed crimes during the conflict. The report highlighted Israeli authorities’ responsibility for war crimes such as starvation as a means of warfare, premeditated killing, and attacks on civilians and civilian objects in Gaza. Additionally, it found that Israeli forces had committed violence, torture, and attacked human dignity while allowing settlers to commit violent attacks against Palestinian communities in West Bank.
Despite facing obstacles such as restricted access to Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, the committee conducted interviews with victims and witnesses; sent missions to neighboring countries; analyzed vast amounts of data to compile its findings. Overall, it underscored
