A United Nations investigation has found that Israel has committed crimes against humanity during its war on Gaza, including the crime of “extermination,” several news outlets reported.
In its first in-depth investigation of the Hamas-Israel war, the UN found that while both Israeli and Palestinian armed groups have committed war crimes, Israel has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of both international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
“The commission found that crimes against humanity of extermination; murder; gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys; forcible transfer; and torture and inhuman and cruel treatment were committed,” the report stated.
Israel responded by rejecting the conclusions and accusing the UN commission of “systematic anti-Israeli discrimination.”
The commission’s chair, Navi Pillay, a former UN rights chief and an former International Criminal Court judge, said “It is imperative that all those who have committed crimes be held accountable.” He called for Israel to “immediately stop its military operations and attacks in Gaza.”
The UN Security Council voted to back a proposal outlined by President Joe Biden on Monday for a full ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The proposal also includes the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of the bodies of dead hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
At a high-level International Conference on the Urgent Humanitarian Response to Gaza held on Monday in the Dead Sea region, Morocco strongly supported all initiatives to achieve a long-term ceasefire in Gaza, provide humanitarian relief, and safeguard civilians.