The United Nations has joined calls labeling Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal, arguing there is a clear aim to erase a people. In a briefing outlining evidence of genocidal conduct, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories presented a report that details grave abuses in the Gaza Strip. With tens of thousands of Palestinian fatalities and tens of thousands more wounded since the conflict began, many international actors are weighing in on the crisis as the Israeli campaign continues. In the most recent 24 hours, dozens more civilians reportedly lost their lives in Gaza even as the UN Security Council pressed for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan.
According to the briefing, Israel is accused of three genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention, as described during a press conference accompanying the release of the report Anatomy of Genocide. The accusation rests on the interpretation that designated actions were intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected group. The detailed analysis presents conditions and acts that, under this framework, reflect intent to inflict harm and destabilize the lives of Palestinians in Gaza beyond conventional warfare.
Deliberate intent
The lead analyst, the first woman to hold the post in two years, spent months tracking and evaluating the violence in Gaza. The assessment argues that the measures go beyond typical war crimes. It highlights the exceptional scale of the humanitarian catastrophe over the last five months, citing widespread civilian deaths, the use of restricted weapons, and the destruction of nonmilitary infrastructure, including hospitals. The report also notes deliberate deprivation of essential resources, arguing that such actions constitute conduct that transcends standard war crime thresholds and touches on crimes against humanity.
To back up the genocide charge, emphasis is placed on a calculated intent evidenced in numerous public statements by Israeli leaders regarding Palestinians. The analysis describes a brutal dynamic accompanied by a dehumanizing discourse that appears to originate from high-level sectors of Israeli society. The broader point is that genocide is not a single act but a process. The discussion also references a historical pattern of colonial ideologies that aimed to eliminate Indigenous populations, drawing a parallel to the Palestinian experience. The report recommends arms embargoes for Israel and the deployment of international protective presence in Gaza to safeguard civilians.
Israeli strikes and diplomacy
The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva, where the UN Human Rights Council is meeting, has criticized the report’s author, characterizing the work as part of a broader campaign to delegitimize Israel’s very existence. Israeli officials have previously described the statements as antisemitic, and Israel has restricted entry for the rapporteur, a pattern observed with predecessors since 2008. Responding to the situation, the rapporteur has acknowledged pressures but insisted on maintaining full commitment to the investigation, noting that threats have been received during the inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Gaza operation continues. In the northern portion of the enclave, dozens have died due to artillery and drone strikes. In the central area near Al Shifa Hospital, ongoing Israeli military actions have damaged numerous homes. A strike on the Bureij refugee camp in the center of Gaza resulted in multiple fatalities. In the far south, Rafah remains the site of heavy casualties among displaced Gazans, many of them women and children, as the boundary with Egypt remains a focal point of distress and displacement.
Reports indicate additional fatalities as groups attempt to retrieve aid dropped from the air. In one incident, several men entered the Mediterranean after aid bundles fell into the water. Political leaders in the region have commented on shifting international support, with a top Hamas official condemning perceived gaps in international backing while criticizing United States influence. The American administration has been noted as unable to press its preferred outcome through the Security Council, according to multiple conversations with Axios.
In neighboring Lebanon’s southern border area, Israeli strikes have claimed lives among ambulance personnel, highlighting the broader regional toll. The highest-ranking figures are described as young professionals whose loss underscores the human cost of the ongoing conflict.