Israel's methods in Gaza war consistent with 'genocide': UN Special Committee

UN Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices has found that Israel’s warfare methods in the Gaza war– now in its second year– are consistent with genocide.

In a report released on Thursday (November 14), the committee said that Israel’s warfare practices in Gaza “are consistent with the characteristics of genocide”, pointing to the “mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians there.”

What UN experts said

“Since the war began, Israeli officials have openly endorsed policies that deprive Palestinians of essential resources needed for survival – including food, water, and fuel,” the committee said in a press release, as reported by Al Jazeera.

“These declarations, coupled with the systematic and unlawful obstruction of humanitarian aid, underscore Israel’s apparent intent to leverage life-saving supplies for political and military purposes,” the statement continued.

The report’s conclusions– that Israel deliberately restricts aid to Gaza, employs starvation as a method of warfare, and is indifferent to the impact on civilian lives– align with similar condemnations from other UN and humanitarian organisations regarding Israel’s actions.

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Previous findings around genocide in Gaza

The term “genocide” is seldom used in reference to Israel’s actions in Gaza by UN-affiliated bodies.

However, in recent times, that trend has been changing. Less than a month ago, on October 23, the report of this same UN Special Committee had used similar language to the one in the current report, pointing out that Israel’s policies and practices are “consistent with the characteristics of genocide.”

“The targeting of Palestinians as a group; the life-threatening conditions imposed on Palestinians in Gaza through warfare and restrictions on humanitarian aid – resulting in physical destruction, increased miscarriages and stillbirths – and the killing of and serious bodily or mental harm caused to Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are violations under international law,” the report had said.

It alleged that Israeli forces had, en masse, killed Gazan civilians indiscriminately and disproportionally.

The report had called for senior Israeli government and military officials to be held accountable, especially for using dehumanising language and inciting violence.

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With inputs from agencies