Geneva — A United Nations investigative body has accused Israel of committing acts amounting to “genocide” in Gaza, a charge that has provoked a sharp and immediate rejection from the Israeli government.
The report, released after months of inquiry, claims that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has targeted civilians in ways that violate international law. Investigators pointed to mass casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the blockade of humanitarian aid as evidence of what they described as systematic actions intended to destroy the Palestinian population in part or whole.
The findings quickly sparked outrage in Tel Aviv, where officials dismissed the report as “distorted and false.” Israel’s government argued that the report ignored the context of Hamas’s attacks and the country’s right to defend itself. Leaders insisted that their operations have been directed at armed groups and military infrastructure, not civilians, and accused the U.N. body of bias.
The release of the report has reignited global debate over the conduct of the war, with human rights organizations welcoming the U.N.’s findings while Israel’s allies expressed caution in responding. Some nations have called for accountability measures, while others stressed the need to focus on securing a ceasefire and preventing further escalation.
Diplomats warn that the fallout from the report could deepen divisions within the international community and complicate ongoing mediation efforts aimed at bringing relief to Gaza. For now, the U.N.’s allegations and Israel’s forceful denial underscore the widening gulf over one of the world’s most polarizing conflicts.