On September 16, 2025, the international community was shocked by the latest report from the United Nations (UN) Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which explicitly stated that Israel had committed genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. This statement is not merely an addition to the long list of criticisms directed at Israel, but a moral and political verdict that has the potential to change the dynamics of international law and relations between countries.
Four Acts of Genocide
The Commission found that Israel had committed four of the five acts of genocide as defined in the 1948 Genocide Convention. These acts include (1) mass murder of civilians, (2) causing serious physical and mental suffering, (3) creating conditions of life intended to destroy the group, and (4) systematically preventing births through systematic starvation and destruction of maternal and child health systems. The evidence gathered, including field documentation, victim testimonies, and recordings of official Israeli government policies, points to the direct involvement of the country’s highest authorities. Names such as President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant are explicitly named as responsible parties, not only in military decision-making, but also in political rhetoric that encourages policies of extermination.
Humanitarian Tragedy in Gaza
Commission Chair Navi Pillay emphasized that this report serves as a stark warning to the world. Since Israel’s military escalation in Gaza in October 2023, civilian casualties have risen dramatically. As of mid-September 2025, Gaza Ministry of Health data recorded more than 65,000 people killed and 165,000 others injured. These figures reflect not only the impact of direct attacks, but also the result of a total blockade on basic necessities. Clean water, electricity, food, and medical aid have been shut down, turning Gaza into a collapsed living space. This situation reinforces that Israel’s policy is no longer merely a military operation, but a planned pattern towards the systematic destruction of a group.
In addition to the blockade, the report also highlights the use of sexual violence, arbitrary detention, and the destruction of public facilities such as hospitals and schools. All of these actions not only weaken the resistance group, but also damage the social structure of civilians. From an international law perspective, such practices confirm the existence of “genocidal intent” that cannot be disguised under the pretext of national security.
Israel’s Denial and UN Criticism
One of the authors of the latest UN report stating that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza strongly refuted the Israeli government’s claim rejecting the findings. Chris Sidoti, a member of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, accused the Israeli government of using what he called “ChatGPT propaganda” to cover up their crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In a joint press conference with Commission Chair Navi Pillay, Sidoti criticized Israel’s repetitive response pattern whenever human rights violation reports are published. “Their answers are always the same, repeated over and over, even now like ChatGPT output,” Sidoti said, as quoted by Al Jazeera. With a satirical tone, he added that even though Israel spends large amounts of money in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for propaganda purposes, the results still lack originality.
Sidoti emphasized that instead of continuously rejecting international findings, Israel should provide substantive responses by addressing the evidence presented in official reports. According to him, baseless rejection only further weakens Israel’s credibility in the eyes of the global community.
Global Legal and Political Implications
The consequences of this report are enormous. Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, every country has an obligation to prevent and stop genocide as soon as there is a real risk. In the case of Gaza, that threshold has been far exceeded, even since the International Court of Justice ordered provisional measures in January 2024. The fact that casualties continue to mount after the order underscores the failure of the international community. This latest report reinforces the argument that inaction is not merely negligence, but a form of complicity.
Author : Nazwa
Image Source : npr.org
Reference :
Hamilton, Rebecca. “U.N. Commission Finds That Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza: What Does It Mean?” Just Security, September 16, 2025. https://www.justsecurity.org/120762/coi-genocide-israel-gaza/.
Jasmine, Adinda. “PBB Tegaskan Israel Lakukan 4 Tindakan Genosida Di Gaza.” Tempo. PT Tempo Inti Media, September 18, 2025. https://www.tempo.co/internasional/pbb-tegaskan-israel-lakukan-4-tindakan-genosida-di-gaza-2070838.
Nicholls, Catherine. “UN Commission Says Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza.” CNN, September 16, 2025. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/16/middleeast/israel-gaza-genocide-un-commission-report-intl.
United Nations. “Israel Has Committed Genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission of Inquiry Finds – Question of Palestine.” United Nations – Question of Palestine, September 17, 2025. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/israel-has-committed-genocide-in-the-gaza-strip-un-commission-finds-16sep25/.
