A landmark United Nations report has ignited global controversy, presenting what it calls "clear evidence" that both Israel and Palestinian militant groups have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity since the 7th October attacks.
The exhaustive investigation, conducted by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, delivers its most damning assessment to date. It concludes there are "reasonable grounds to believe" the threshold for several atrocity crimes, including genocide, has been met.
A Catalogue of Alleged Atrocities
The report meticulously details a harrowing list of violations allegedly committed by Israeli forces. These include:
- Starvation as a method of warfare: The deliberate targeting of food sources and the obstruction of humanitarian aid.
- Extermination and murder: The killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, with a disproportionate number being women and children.
- Forced displacement: The widespread evacuation orders and destruction of housing rendering Gaza uninhabitable.
- Torture and inhuman treatment: Accounts of severe abuse and sexual violence against detainees.
- Direct attacks on civilians: Bombardment of residential areas, hospitals, and UN-run shelters.
Hamas and Palestinian Armed Groups Also Implicated
In a significant finding, the report also holds Palestinian armed groups responsible for a catalogue of war crimes during the 7th October attacks. These include:
- Deliberate targeting of civilians: The murder and cruel treatment of hundreds of Israeli civilians.
- Hostage-taking: The capture and continued holding of civilians under horrific conditions.
- Sexual violence: The commission found "clear and convincing information" that hostages suffered rape and sexualised torture.
- Indiscriminate rocket fire: Firing thousands of projectiles towards Israeli population centres.
International Reaction and Israeli Condemnation
The report's release has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. It calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Israel has reacted with fury, accusing the commission of systematic bias. The Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the findings as an attempt to "create a false symmetry" between Hamas and the Israeli military. The report is likely to fuel further debate over arms exports to Israel, with several countries already reviewing their positions.
The findings have been forwarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), adding weight to ongoing international legal proceedings.
