UN Commission accuses Israel of war crimes and genocide continuing past Gaza ceasefire

A United Nations commission of inquiry reports that Israeli authorities and forces have continued committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in the occupied Palestinian territory even after the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In a report presented to the UN General Assembly, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory stated that military operations and settler violence in the West Bank form part of a coordinated attack to expand settlements and displace the population.

Casualties and Violations

More than 75,000 Palestinians, including at least 21,500 children and 11,000 women, have been killed across the territory since October 7, 2023, when a Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel. The death toll has kept rising despite the October 2025 ceasefire. Commission Chair Justice Srinivasan Muralidhar stated that Israeli forces in Gaza keep expanding their territorial control, killing and injuring civilians and children who approach the Yellow Line separating military-controlled areas from Palestinian-ruled parts. The report also documents crimes of extermination, torture, rape, and sexual violence in the West Bank, alongside discriminatory rules of engagement. Military actions since January 2025 have caused the largest displacement in the West Bank since 1967, leaving 34,176 people displaced as of August 2026.

Reactions and Rejections

The report contradicted Board of Peace claims that the ceasefire had held and brought relief. Justice Muralidhar also criticized Palestinian security forces for using disproportionate force and failing to investigate killings. Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected the report as historical fiction and accused the commission of using terrorist talking points. Justice Muralidhar defended the findings, noting they followed standards of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, though Israel has denied the commission access to the territory. Justice Muralidhar addressed the UN via video link after failing to receive a U.S. visa.

Context

Independent international commissions of inquiry are established by the United Nations to investigate serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in specific conflict zones. Their reports rely on gathered testimonies, expert analyses, and legal frameworks to document abuses and present findings to global bodies like the General Assembly and the Security Council.