A United Nations commission has concluded that the State of Israel bears responsibility for the failure to prevent genocide, the commission of genocide, and the failure to punish perpetrators against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This finding, presented in a September 16, 2025, report, also stated that Israel has committed genocide. The commission urged Israel to immediately end these actions and comply fully with provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice.
UN report concludes Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, citing failure to prevent it and punish perpetrators.
In parallel, recent statements from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, dated around May 18, 2026, called on Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. These statements also condemned what they described as "indications of ethnic cleansing" in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. This condemnation was linked to displacement, military operations, and changes affecting Palestinian communities.
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Grave Violations Alleged
Recent reports, including those from September 16, 2025, and around May 18, 2026, detail that Israel's actions in Gaza since October 7, 2023, constitute "grave violations" of international law. In many instances, these actions are said to amount to "war crimes and other atrocity crimes," and potentially "crimes against humanity."
"The Commission calls on Israel to immediately end the activities of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The Commission urges Israel and all States to fulfil their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible for it."
Calls for Accountability and Action
The UN report calls for accountability mechanisms to address alleged violations. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have echoed these findings, stating that the evidence of Israel's actions mounts and that the international community "cannot claim they didn’t know."
"This report must compel states to take immediate action and fulfill their legal and moral obligation to halt Israel’s genocide." - Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General.
Contextual Elements
International Court of Justice (ICJ) Orders: The UN rights chief specifically called on Israel to ensure compliance with a 2024 ICJ order to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
Incitement Concerns: The reports also express concern over statements from Israeli officials, with accusations that leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have incited genocide. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have also been mentioned in relation to settlement expansion and calls for displacement.
Background of Conflict: The reports reference the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people in Israel, many of them civilians. This event preceded the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Claims from Other Bodies: Alongside UN findings, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, described as the world’s largest body of genocide scholars, also stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Leading Israeli human rights groups have also made similar claims. In December 2023, South Africa lodged a case at the ICJ accusing Israel of genocide.
Humanitarian Situation: The situation on the ground is described as dire, with hundreds of thousands still living in tents despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. Reports also mention Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing expanded control over Gaza, a move noted to contradict ceasefire agreements.
The UN findings are presented as the "strongest and most authoritative UN finding to date" on the war by the commission. Israel has consistently maintained its military operations are in self-defence, aimed at defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
