The United Nations commission investigating the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza has released a damning report accusing both Palestinian armed groups and Israel of committing war crimes. The panel, led by former United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay, stated that Israel’s conduct during the conflict included crimes against humanity.
According to the report, Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, killed and tortured people during the assault on Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people, including more than 800 civilians. The commission also highlighted instances of abductions, sexual violence, and the desecration of corpses by Palestinian militants.
On the other hand, Israel was also found to have committed war crimes during its campaign in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war through a total siege of the region. The report condemned Israel’s use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas, which led to a disproportionately high number of civilian casualties, particularly among women and children.
Israel, however, has rejected the findings of the report, claiming it to be biased and discriminatory. The commission noted that Israel did not cooperate with the investigation, hindering their ability to verify certain allegations.
The commission identified individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity on both sides, including senior members of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, as well as senior members of Israel’s political and military leadership. The panel stated that it would continue its investigations to hold those individuals accountable.
The report’s release has sparked controversy and condemnation from both sides, with Israel denouncing the findings as anti-Israeli discrimination. The international community will now be closely watching how these allegations are addressed in international criminal proceedings.
