New York:Israel has been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with a focus on ongoing genocide in Gaza, according to findings by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, the commission's recent report highlights that Israel has engaged in acts such as extermination, persecution, torture, and sexual violence, intentionally targeting Palestinian civilians. The report presented to the UN General Assembly outlines a deteriorating situation in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, with a significant rise in airstrike-related deaths and the targeting of Palestinians based on nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, and age.
The report also accuses Israeli forces of continuing genocidal acts in Gaza, despite a ceasefire agreement, with the intention to destroy the Palestinian people. The destruction of homes and denial of responsibility are seen as part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians and impose unliveable conditions.
Srinivasan Muralidhar, Chair of the Commission, stated that Israel's actions are part of a systematic attack to expand territorial control and displace Palestinians. The report identifies military operations and colonist violence as coordinated attacks against civilians, with sexual violence used as a means to destabilize the Palestinian population.
The report further notes the deliberate targeting of children and the drivers behind Israel's territorial expansion and displacement efforts, rooted in historical practices since the 1947-48 war. The Commission recommends that Israel comply with international legal opinions and end its occupation and colonization of Palestinian territories.