A United Nations special committee has concluded that Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip align with behaviors consistent with “genocide,” citing the use of starvation as a tactic of war.
In a report released Thursday, the UN human rights committee detailed alleged Israeli abuses in Gaza from October 2023 through July 2024. According to the findings, “mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions” have been deliberately inflicted on Palestinians by Israel’s measures.
“Israel’s siege of Gaza, blockage of humanitarian aid, and targeted attacks on civilians and aid workers—despite persistent UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice, and Security Council resolutions—represent an intentional campaign leading to death, starvation, and grievous harm,” the committee’s statement asserted.
Earlier this year, the UN’s principal judicial body directed Israel to enact measures to prevent genocidal acts against Gaza’s population. The committee criticized Israel’s policies as collective punishment, particularly accusing it of using starvation as a weapon.
The report denounced Israeli military tactics, including obstructing vital aid, targeting non-combatants, and destroying critical infrastructure such as water and sanitation systems—actions the committee says could cause enduring harm across generations.
Israel’s extensive airstrikes have exacerbated the crisis, eroding essential services and causing what the report describes as an “environmental catastrophe” with long-term health repercussions. The committee highlighted the destruction of water and sanitation facilities as particularly egregious, forecasting that damage would persist long after any potential ceasefire.
Furthermore, the report examined Israel’s use of AI-powered targeting in its military operations, noting a significant number of civilian casualties. “Minimal human oversight combined with AI-driven targeting and heavy munitions shows a severe disregard for the obligation to protect civilian lives,” the committee emphasized.
Arwa Damon, founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA), which offers medical and psychological care to children impacted by war, described the conditions in Gaza as “an unending nightmare.”
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) indicated that women and children make up nearly 70 percent of those killed during Israel’s campaign in Gaza, which it terms a genocide. A recent UN-backed analysis also warned of looming famine in Gaza’s north, where Israel’s recent offensive has further intensified humanitarian suffering.
On Thursday, the Israeli military carried out new strikes across Gaza, resulting in several deaths and injuries. An attack on a western Gaza school claimed three lives and wounded ten others. Other strikes hit Gaza City and refugee camps in Jabalia and Nuseirat, further escalating an already dire situation.