Israel’s warfare methods in Gaza are consistent with genocide, featuring deliberate imposition of life-threatening conditions and mass civilian casualties, the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices reported on Thursday.
“Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life — food, water, and fuel,” the Committee said. The report covers developments from October 2023 to July 2024 across occupied territories.
By early 2024, Israel had dropped over 25,000 tons of explosives on Gaza — equivalent to two nuclear bombs — creating an environmental catastrophe that will have lasting health impacts. The Committee found this has led to the collapse of water and sanitation systems, agricultural devastation, and toxic pollution.
“Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury,” the Committee stated.
The report raised concerns about Israel’s use of AI-enhanced targeting systems with minimal human oversight, particularly evident in the high number of women and children among casualties. The Committee also condemned Israel’s media censorship and attacks on UNRWA, describing them as “deliberate efforts to block global access to information.”
“It is the collective responsibility of every State to stop supporting the assault on Gaza and the apartheid system in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” urged the Committee, which comprises representatives from Malaysia, Senegal and Sri Lanka. The report will be presented to the UN General Assembly on 18 November 2024.
The committee, established after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, was unable to visit Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and Israel, as their access requests went unanswered.
In a related development, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 3,386 people since 8 October 2023, including 878 women and children and 192 healthcare workers. The attacks have also wounded 14,417 people.
“Yesterday’s strikes across various regions of Lebanon resulted in 21 deaths and 73 injuries,” the Ministry stated.
