UN Commission Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza and Extermination in West Bank
A United Nations-mandated commission of inquiry has concluded that Israel continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, even after a ceasefire agreement last year, and has also committed the crime against humanity of “extermination” in the occupied West Bank. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel released its report on Monday, stating that Israeli forces intentionally targeted Palestinian civilians and that Palestinians in the West Bank were being singled out on the basis of their nationality, ethnicity, gender and age. The report also found that “sustained settler violence” in the West Bank formed part of Israel’s “widespread and systemic attack” against the Palestinian people.nnThe commission’s findings detail a pattern of violence that has intensified since October 2023. In the West Bank, the report noted a dramatic increase in airstrikes: six Palestinians were killed by airstrikes between 2008 and 6 October 2023, while 254 Palestinians were killed by airstrikes between 7 October 2023 and 30 September 2026. The commission also accused Israel of committing the crimes against humanity of extermination, persecution, torture and rape in the West Bank. These actions, according to the report, are part of a broader campaign against Palestinians that extends beyond Gaza.nnIn Gaza, the report states that genocide is ongoing despite the ceasefire agreement. The commission’s conclusions come amid continued violence, including an Israeli strike on a university in Gaza City on October 25 that killed three people, according to staff and a local hospital. The civil defence agency reported four others killed elsewhere in the territory. The report’s release also coincides with ongoing mourning, as families grieve for victims of the conflict. The commission’s mandate is to investigate violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, and its findings add to mounting international concern over Israel’s conduct.nnIsrael has consistently rejected such accusations, denying allegations of genocide and arguing that its actions are necessary for self-defense. The UN commission’s report, however, represents a significant condemnation by independent experts, who called for accountability. The report’s focus on both Gaza and the West Bank underscores the regional dimension of the conflict and the need for comprehensive international attention. As
Shimanta Das 
