UN Report Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza, Calls for Global Action
New York, Tuesday, 16 September 2025.
A UN commission has concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing evidence of genocidal acts and urging international intervention. Israel rejects the report as antisemitic.
UN Commission’s Findings and Allegations
On 16 September 2025, an independent inquiry by the United Nations concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This marks the first time a UN body has substantiated such allegations. The report identified four out of the five genocidal acts defined by the Genocide Convention, which include killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction, and imposing measures intended to prevent births [1][2].
Israel’s Response and International Backlash
Israeli officials have categorically rejected the UN report, describing it as distorted and false. Israel’s foreign ministry called for the immediate abolition of the Commission of Inquiry, labeling the accusations as antisemitic [1]. Despite this rejection, the report has intensified global calls for action, with the UN urging the international community to employ all means reasonably available to prevent further genocidal acts [3][4].
International Reactions and Legal Implications
The findings have prompted significant international responses. US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley stated that the Israeli government is implementing a plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, implicating the United States in these actions [1][3]. The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the world’s largest body of genocide scholars, and various human rights organizations have also declared Israel’s actions as genocide [3][5].
Potential Impact on International Relations
The UN report could have profound implications for international legal proceedings. South Africa previously accused Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice in December 2023, and the case has garnered support from countries like Spain, Mexico, and Libya [2][4]. As the international community grapples with these grave allegations, the situation in Gaza remains a critical focal point in global human rights discourse [2][5].