London mayor Khan brands Gaza situation genocide, citing UN inquiry
Khan's remarks at a White City forum follow a UN commission of inquiry that found plausible grounds for genocide; Israel rejects the report as distorted
London's mayor Sir Sadiq Khan described the Gaza crisis as genocide during a People's Question Time event in White City, west London, on Wednesday night. He told attendees that images of starving children, a collapsed health system, and a famine he called man-made leave him with an inescapable conclusion about Gaza, and he tied his assessment to both an interim judgment by the International Court of Justice and a UN commission of inquiry published this week.
Khan's comments come ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, as political and humanitarian concerns around Gaza intensify ahead of high-level discussions in the coming days. The twice-yearly People's Question Time forum brings together the mayor, assembly members, and members of the public to discuss issues ranging from transport and policing to housing and social services. Khan said the images he had seen compelled him to speak out, arguing that the violence and humanitarian conditions in Gaza amount to actions that fit the definition of genocide under international law.
The UN commission of inquiry published this week said there are reasonable grounds to conclude that four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law have been carried out since the start of the war with Hamas in 2023: killing members of a group, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to destroy the group, and preventing births. The panel noted that the inquiry into the broader conflict follows an earlier finding that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and other serious violations of international law on 7 October 2023. The commission emphasized that its conclusions are based on investigations and corroborated evidence, and it urged accountability for those responsible.
Israel's foreign ministry rejected the UN report, saying it relied entirely on Hamas falsehoods and was distorted and false. A spokesperson called the commission's conclusions unsubstantiated and said they had been debunked by independent investigations and by Israel's own security forces. The Israeli government has repeatedly argued that its military operations are aimed at neutralizing Hamas threats and protecting civilian populations, though humanitarian groups say the conflict has produced widespread civilian suffering and a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.
Displaced Palestinians are fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, according to aid agencies and local authorities. Since the start of the current campaign in response to Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack, deaths have mounted sharply, with the territory's Hamas-run health ministry reporting tens of thousands killed in the ensuing fighting. The international community has repeatedly stressed the need for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza's civilian population, as well as safe corridors for aid deliveries and medical services.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, said that at least 65,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since 7 October 2023. The UN and other aid groups have warned that the majority of Gaza's population is displaced or at risk, with estimates suggesting that more than 90% of homes have been damaged or destroyed and essential services such as healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems severely strained or collapsed. UN-backed food security experts have declared a famine in Gaza City, highlighting the severity of shortages and the risk to vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly. The situation has prompted renewed calls for ceasefire, humanitarian corridors, and sustained international support to avert further loss of life.
The Israeli campaign in Gaza began as a response to Hamas October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Since then, fighting has caused widespread destruction and displacement across Gaza, complicating international efforts to deliver aid and protect civilians. The United Nations and other international bodies have issued repeated warnings about the need to safeguard civilian lives and to uphold international humanitarian law, amid stark contradictions between Israeli security concerns and humanitarian obligations.
As the conflict persists, observers say the international community faces difficult choices about accountability, aid, and long-term prospects for peace. While governments debate the appropriate response, humanitarian organizations continue to appeal for safe access to those in need and for mechanisms to document abuses and pursue accountability for violations by all sides. The coming weeks are likely to see renewed diplomatic efforts, public statements from major world leaders, and intensified scrutiny of the ways in which humanitarian aid can reach the most affected populations.
