A United Nations commission has accused Israel of continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza following a ceasefire brokered by the United States last October. The findings were detailed in a report published on Monday by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which examined alleged violations against Palestinian civilians from the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, through September 2026.
The commission concluded that Israeli authorities maintained actions with genocidal intent aimed at destroying, in whole or in part, the Palestinian population in Gaza. It cited the ongoing use of heavy weaponry—including drones, artillery, sniper fire, and quadcopters—in densely populated civilian areas during the truce. The report highlighted the expansion of a ceasefire demarcation area, referred to as the "Yellow Line," which has increasingly encroached on Gaza territory and effectively represented Israel's growing control of parts of the enclave.
In addition to developments in Gaza, the commission reported a sharp deterioration in conditions in the occupied West Bank. It noted a significant rise in Palestinian casualties from airstrikes, increasing from six deaths between 2008 and early October 2023 to 254 in the following three years. Military operations beginning in January 2025 reportedly triggered the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967, with more than 34,000 people still displaced as of August 2026. The report described these actions, coupled with settler violence, as part of a "widespread and systematic attack" on Palestinian civilians, amounting to crimes against humanity, including “extermination.”
The commission also criticized the Palestinian Authority, alleging it has targeted Palestinians expressing dissent and that journalists and human rights defenders face threats, injury, and fatalities under its governance.
Israeli officials strongly rejected the report’s accusations. The Israeli mission to the United Nations in Geneva characterized the findings as part of a misinformation campaign aimed at delegitimizing Israel and undermining its right to exist and defend itself. Ambassador Daniel Meron called the allegations “scandalous” and framed the inquiry as an effort to demonize the Jewish state.
The release of the report coincided with Israel’s general election. It follows a previous UN investigation issued in September 2025, which first raised claims of genocide and alleged incitement by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian authorities report that more than 74,000 people in Gaza have died since Israel’s military offensive began in response to the Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
The contrasting perspectives underline the ongoing international controversy surrounding the conflict and the deeply contested narratives over actions and responsibilities in Gaza and the West Bank. The UN inquiry’s findings may further complicate diplomatic efforts and dialogue related to the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict.