In a ground-breaking report launched on September 16, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza represent genocide.
Chaired by former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, the Commission spent two years meticulously accumulating and verifying proof, documenting over 60,000 Palestinian deaths — together with 18,000 kids — and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, healthcare amenities, and Gaza’s largest fertility clinic.
In this unique interview with Muneef Khan, Ms. Pillay discusses the Commission’s findings, the authorized and ethical obligations of the worldwide neighborhood, the dangers posed by high-profile diplomatic initiatives, and the pressing steps states should take to stop additional atrocities and guarantee accountability.
Thank you for acknowledging the significance of the report. It took us two years of accumulating, verifying, and checking proof earlier than reaching these conclusions. First, the worldwide neighborhood needn’t anticipate a report from a UN physique just like the Commission, nor for a ruling on genocide by a global courtroom, such because the ICJ. Third states have an obligation below worldwide regulation not solely to punish genocide but in addition to stop it, an obligation triggered at the very least since January 2024 by way of the primary provisional measures ordered by the ICJ within the South Africa software towards Israel. This Commission report is probably the most authoritative UN physique report back to date. We utilized a stringent customary, much like that utilized by the ICJ, relating to the particular intent aspect of the Genocide Convention. Therefore, the report must be handled by the worldwide neighborhood as a powerful indicator that they need to act now to cease the continued genocide within the Gaza Strip. This is a pre-emptive obligation on each state to stop and punish genocide. The Commission has additionally offered concrete suggestions, which must be taken significantly and carried out immediately.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza has simply damaged. How do you view this plan in relation to your Commission’s findings, and extra importantly, are you involved that such high-profile diplomatic initiatives, usually pushed by energy politics moderately than worldwide regulation, might marginalise or eclipse the work of UN accountability mechanisms like your Commission?
Our suggestions coincide with international public calls for for a direct ceasefire and an answer. I’m not recommending a two-state answer, although the UN does, and the participation of Palestine is essential. The latest recognition of Palestine as a state at a high-level summit is important. We are cautious when political leaders collect in non-public to plan options; such processes must be open to scrutiny by the media, NGOs, and the general public. This report, with its documented info and findings, should be thought-about in negotiations.
To reiterate, do you’re feeling that high-profile diplomatic initiatives might overshadow your Commission’s findings, for example as a result of international consideration has shifted to this 20-point plan for Gaza?
That is exactly why I emphasise the expectations of the world’s public. They align with our name to research and prosecute genocide. There should be not solely peace however justice and accountability. Negotiations threat producing a superficial or non permanent peace that would collapse if they don’t take the report’s findings under consideration.
The Commission verified over 60,000 Palestinians had been killed, together with greater than 18,000 kids and practically 10,000 girls. What do these figures point out about who was focused?
More than 50% of these killed in Gaza had been girls, kids, and aged individuals — civilians, not combatants. The Commission analysed strategies of warfare and the sorts of weapons utilized by Israeli safety forces, revealing a constant sample meant to trigger widespread casualties. The declare that Israel was conducting operations to destroy Hamas, defend itself, or safe hostages is unjustified and unreasonable. The mass killings and ensuing severe bodily and psychological hurt show a constant sample exhibiting the intent to bodily destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a bunch.
Research cited in your report exhibits Gaza’s life expectancy collapsed by nearly 35 years in a single 12 months, from 75.5 to 40.5. Why is that this demographic collapse a vital indicator of group destruction?
The Commission cited this knowledge to point out the direct hyperlink between Israeli actions and the steep decline in life expectancy since October 7, 2023. Killings, restricted entry to healthcare, hunger, and malnutrition have contributed on to this collapse. Such circumstances are stunning and point out a deliberate creation of circumstances resulting in the loss of life of Palestinians, which helps the discovering of genocidal intent.
In December 2023, an Israeli strike destroyed Gaza’s largest fertility clinic, wiping out roughly 4,000 embryos and 1,000 sperm samples. How does this act fall below the Genocide Convention’s prohibitions relating to the prevention of births inside a bunch?
The clinic was the one fertility centre in Gaza, identified for its saved reproductive supplies. Israeli forces launched a tank shell that hit the clinic, inflicting 5 liquid nitrogen tanks to blow up, destroying all reproductive materials saved for future Palestinian births. The regulation doesn’t require precise prevention of births to qualify as genocide; the act should be meant to stop births with the intent to destroy a bunch. Experts confirmed that the destruction of the IVF clinic can have repercussions for generations. The Commission discovered that Israeli authorities knew the positioning’s perform and deliberately destroyed it, fulfilling the weather of genocide partly.
Since May 2025, at the very least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed looking for meals, together with 859 at humanitarian distribution websites and 515 alongside routes. Why did the Commission think about these killings central to its evaluation of genocidal coverage?
Genocidal intent might be inferred from the totality of proof, together with patterns of conduct and statements by political leaders. The killings at humanitarian websites had been thought-about a part of this totality. Medical professionals offered testimony about kids, together with a one-and-a-half-year-old woman, shot whereas in her mom’s arms. The widespread and systematic focusing on of civilians, particularly kids, was discovered to be a part of a method to destroy the Palestinian group.
On March 23, 2025, 15 first responders had been killed at Tal as-Sultan, and ambulances had been bulldosed into mass graves. What did your investigation conclude about this incident and Israel’s strategies of warfare?
Videos contradicted Israeli false narratives. The Commission discovered that first responders had been deliberately shot over an prolonged interval, indicating intent to kill and data that the victims had been Palestinians. This assault matches a broader sample of focusing on healthcare employees and destroying Gaza’s medical system, which additional evidences genocidal intent.
The Commission decided that Israel dedicated 4 underlying genocidal acts: killings, severe hurt, destruction of dwelling circumstances, and stopping births. What was decisive in distinguishing genocide from different worldwide crimes?
Genocidal intent requires proof that acts had been dedicated with the purpose of destroying, in entire or partly, a protected group. This might be proven by way of direct proof, reminiscent of statements by authorities, and circumstantial proof, together with patterns of conduct. Our evaluation discovered a number of indicators: deliberate killing of civilians, systematic assaults on cultural and academic websites, hunger and blockade, destruction of healthcare programs, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, and systematic focusing on of kids. Together, these represent a transparent intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.
You highlighted statements by Benjamin Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant as direct incitement. Why are these legally important?
These statements present direct proof of intent. Mr. Netanyahu, on October 7, 2023, pledged “mighty vengeance” on Gaza, instructing residents to go away whereas focusing on your complete metropolis, implying the civilian inhabitants was additionally a goal. Mr. Galant introduced a whole siege and dehumanised Palestinians, promising complete destruction. Mr. Herzog said your complete nation was accountable. These statements show coverage and intent, justifying the advice to research these people for genocide.
Your report warns that states supplying arms or political assist threat breaching their obligation to stop genocide. What concrete steps ought to governments take?
States should guarantee Israel implements ICJ provisional measures, forestall conduct which will represent genocidal acts, together with arms transfers, and stop the switch of kit or objects like jet gas if they may facilitate genocide. States should examine and punish genocide domestically, guarantee companies or people inside their jurisdiction usually are not complicit, impose sanctions, facilitate ICC investigations, and assist ICJ proceedings like South Africa versus Israel. India must be proud that they’ve a decide from India on that courtroom. So, it’s a matter of disgrace if India is discovered to be complicit with Israel by promoting or giving them arms.
You suggest that the ICC pursue genocide fees. Which acts ought to prosecutors prioritise?
All underlying acts of genocide — killings, severe hurt, destruction of life circumstances, and prevention of births — must be investigated. The ICC prosecutor should respect the independence of the workplace whereas investigating crimes documented by the Commission, which show a constant sample of genocidal intent.
Muneef Khan is an impartial journalist.
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