Israel is responsible for crimes against humanity in Gaza, specifically extermination, according to a UN commission, which accused Israeli authorities and Palestinian armed groups of committing war crimes since October 7.
The commission, established in May 2021 by the Human Rights Council, concluded in a report that Israeli authorities committed crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, gender persecution against Palestinian men and boys, forced transfers, acts of torture, and inhuman treatment.
Unlike genocide, crimes against humanity do not necessarily have to target a specific population group but can be directed against any civilian population, according to the UN. However, they must be part of large-scale attacks, unlike war crimes, which can be isolated acts.
According to UN investigators, Israel and seven Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, have committed war crimes since the onset of the most recent conflict, which began on October 7.
The UN Special Commission found evidence of extermination in the Israeli incursion into Gaza. Credits: AFP
UN Calls for Accountability
"It is imperative that all those who commit crimes be held accountable. The only way to end the recurring cycles of violence, including aggression and retaliation by both sides, is to ensure strict adherence to international law," stated Navi Pillay, the South African chairperson of the commission, in a statement. Pillay is a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and a judge of the International Criminal Court.
The commission, created after the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, is also mandated to investigate all root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The commission accuses Israeli authorities of obstructing their investigations and denying access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The report is based on interviews with victims, conducted remotely and during missions to Turkey and Egypt, and on documents including forensic reports and satellite images.
Pillay called on Israel to immediately cease its military operations and attacks in Gaza, including its assault on Rafah. She also urged Hamas and Palestinian armed groups to immediately stop firing rockets and to release all hostages, as their capture constitutes a war crime.
Commission Accuses of Sexual Violence and Hunger in Gaza
The war erupted on October 7 when Islamist militants killed 1,194 people and kidnapped 251 in southern Israel, according to official data. The Israeli army estimates that 116 hostages are still held captive in Gaza, although 41 of them are believed to be dead.
Israel's retaliatory operation in Gaza has resulted in over 37,000 deaths, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-run government in Gaza. On October 7, the commission accused Palestinian armed groups of committing various war crimes, including attacks on civilians, murders, and acts of torture.
Regarding the Israeli offensive in Gaza, the commission stated that Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes, citing, among other things, the use of hunger as a weapon of war, intentionally targeting civilians, sexual violence, torture, and forced transfers.
In the West Bank, the commission found that Israeli troops committed acts of sexual violence, torture, inhumane treatment, and attacks on personal dignity, all of which constitute war crimes. It also stated that the Israeli government and troops allowed, encouraged, and incited a campaign of violence by settlers.
The report also highlighted statements by Israeli officials, including those reflecting policies of widespread destruction and the killing of large numbers of civilians, which may constitute international severe crimes such as incitement to genocide, discrimination, and violence.
With information from AFP