UN report on “Instances of War Crimes” by Israel in Gaza

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel itself, stated in the new report that Israel has demonstrated a “clear and ongoing intent” to establish permanent control over the Gaza Strip and to maintain a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank and within Israel’s borders.

The commission reviewed developments related to land and housing across all areas of the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, detailing the historical patterns of land confiscation, population displacement, discrimination in land and housing, and the construction and expansion of settlements.

UN findings on Israeli crimes

The report includes a summary of the commission’s “Conference Room Document” regarding Israel’s conduct in Gaza under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Released on September 16 during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, the document concluded that four criminal acts aimed at the destruction of the Palestinian people in Gaza had been carried out. These acts were executed by Israeli officials and security forces with “specific intent to destroy” Palestinians and are recognized as actions of the Israeli cabinet. Consequently, Israel is “responsible for committing genocide, failing to prevent it, and failing to punish its perpetrators.”

The commission also noted that the President of Israel, the Prime Minister, and the former Minister of War incited genocide through their statements.

Regarding Gaza, the report states that Israeli authorities have systematically and extensively destroyed civilian infrastructure in “corridors and buffer zones,” expanding areas under their control to approximately 75% of Gaza by July 2025. These actions have severely restricted Palestinians’ access to land and their right to self-determination.

The commission notes that during the destruction of civilian targets and forced displacement, Israeli authorities deliberately deprived Gaza’s Palestinians of vital resources for survival, thereby imposing living conditions “designed for the partial or total destruction of the population,” constituting a core element of genocide.

Nina Plei, Chair of the commission, emphasized: “Israel must immediately cease the confiscation and use of Palestinian land in Gaza, including for creating and expanding buffer zones and corridors, and return the seized land to its Palestinian owners. These actions, justified under the guise of security, have not enhanced safety but have deepened Palestinian suffering and deprived them of essential resources, including the ability to produce food.”

In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israel’s policies and actions since October 2023, including open and covert support for settler violence, indicate a clear intent to forcibly transfer Palestinians, expand the presence of Jewish civilians, and fully annex the West Bank—blocking any potential autonomy or Palestinian statehood and cementing indefinite occupation.

The commission highlighted that Israeli military operations in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps since early 2025 have drastically altered the region’s geographic landscape by destroying buildings and infrastructure, displacing residents, and in some cases, labeling destroyed buildings as “terrorist homes,” which were demolished as punishment or deterrence. The commission concluded these actions lacked military justification and constituted a form of “collective punishment.”

Plei expressed particular concern over Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s recent plan to annex 82% of the West Bank and approve the expansion of the E-1 settlement.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has openly stated that this action would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. These developments confirm our findings. Israel’s attacks across the West Bank, widespread confiscation of property, and displacement of Palestinians are now overt goals proudly discussed by Israeli officials. These plans and hateful statements must be widely condemned,” she said.

Within Israel, the commission found that successive cabinets have enacted laws and policies that restrict the living conditions of Palestinian citizens, including encircling Palestinian residential areas and creating barriers to integration in Jewish areas. Informal obstacles stemming from socio-economic inequalities have deepened over decades, preventing integration between the two populations. Some laws are explicitly discriminatory, while others have practical discriminatory effects, perpetuating a form of segregation.

Main perpetrators identified

The commission concluded that similarities in land and housing policies against Palestinians inside Israel and in the West Bank indicate an overarching strategy to reduce the geographic presence of Palestinians and maintain a Jewish majority across all areas under Israeli control, thereby eliminating the possibility of Palestinian self-determination.

The report names six Israeli ministers as primarily responsible for international crimes related to land and housing:

• Yoav Galant (former Minister of War) and Israel Katz (current Minister of War) for security forces’ actions in Gaza.
• Bezalel Smotrich (Minister of Finance) and Orit Strook (Minister of Settlements and National Projects) for directing settlement construction and expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
• Itamar Ben-Gvir (Minister of National Security) for mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners.
• Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister) as the ultimate authority over Israel’s policies throughout the occupied territories, directly issuing orders constituting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Netanyahu and Galant are also accused of incitement to genocide.

The commission concluded by urging Israel to immediately end acts of genocide in Gaza, fully comply with interim measures of the International Court of Justice and its 2024 advisory opinion, halt illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, evacuate all settlements and settlers from the West Bank and other occupied areas, and reverse the discriminatory impacts of land and housing policies.