BREAKING: A new UN report has confirmed that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, marking an alarming escalation in the ongoing conflict. Released on July 15, 2023, the findings from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry detail systematic killings, deliberate starvation, and attacks on civilians, particularly children.
The report highlights that Israeli authorities have executed four genocidal acts as defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention: killing, causing serious bodily harm, inflicting life-threatening conditions, and preventing births. Commission Chair Navi Pillay stated, “The Commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza,” emphasizing clear intent to destroy the Palestinian population.
As of the report’s release, the Commission verified at least 58,380 deaths in Gaza, with a staggering 46% being women and children. Shockingly, only 8,900 of those killed were identified as militants, suggesting that a staggering 83% of fatalities were civilians. Independent researchers estimate that the actual death toll could exceed 680,000 when indirect deaths from hunger and disease are included.
The report also details horrific incidents, including the destruction of Gaza’s largest fertility clinic, where approximately 4,000 embryos and 1,000 sperm and egg samples were lost, effectively eliminating the potential for thousands of future births. An expert testified that “children who were meant to be born from these reproductive specimens will never exist.”
According to the Commission, top Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have incited genocidal actions against the Palestinian people, with their actions deemed attributable to the State of Israel itself.
“Israel has flagrantly disregarded orders from the International Court of Justice and warnings from UN bodies,” said Pillay. “This genocidal campaign has persisted for almost two years now.”
The report asserts that genocide triggers immediate legal obligations for all states to intervene. The Commission urges global leaders to suspend arms transfers to Israel and consider sanctions against its officials to prevent complicity in these actions. It warns that failure to act amounts to complicity in the ongoing genocide.
The implications of these findings extend to nations like Australia, a signatory to the Genocide Convention and a key ally of Israel. The report highlights that continued support for Israel’s military efforts could expose Australia to accusations of complicity.
As international pressure mounts, the Albanese government faces scrutiny to align its policies with international law. Despite expressing concern over civilian casualties, Australia has yet to halt arms contracts with Israeli-associated defense firms, raising urgent ethical questions about its role in the conflict.
Pillay’s conclusion is clear: “Every day of inaction costs lives and erodes the credibility of the international community.” The world is now watching as urgent calls for action escalate against a backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza.
As the situation develops, the international community must confront these findings head-on, or risk being seen as complicit in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
