UN panel says Israel's conduct in Gaza meets legal threshold for genocide as new bombardment displaces thousands

A United Nations panel has concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal criteria for genocide, saying it is "clear there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza," as thousands of families fled renewed aerial bombardment and ground operations in and around Gaza City.

The three-member independent panel cited a death toll of almost 65,000 people since Israel launched its response to Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, including tens of thousands of women and children, the near-collapse of sanitary and health systems, widespread famine and the destruction of the vast majority of homes in the territory. The report said nine out of 10 homes have been destroyed and the majority of Gaza’s roughly three million residents have been forced to flee.

The panel, composed of a former South African UN chief, an Australian human rights lawyer and an Indian housing and land-rights expert, said its conclusion was reached by comparing Israel’s conduct with obligations under international law. It said the combined effects of military operations, blockade and restrictions on imports of food, fuel and medical supplies have created conditions that have destroyed large parts of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the findings, calling them based on "falsehoods," and said its military campaign is necessary to destroy Hamas, which it holds responsible for the Oct. 7 attacks that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. Israeli officials say hundreds of hostages have been released since then, but that dozens remain in Gaza; international and Israeli counts cited in reporting indicate 48 people are still being held, of whom about 20 are presumed alive.

Fighting around Gaza City intensified as the report was published. Local authorities and witnesses reported at least 78 people feared dead in the latest strikes, including 20 found under collapsed tower blocks. Witnesses described tanks operating on central streets and reported a drone strike on a children's hospital; Israeli military spokespeople have said operations are focused on Hamas targets in densely populated urban areas.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the number of soldiers involved in the offensive would increase in the coming days to confront what it described as up to 3,000 militants remaining in Gaza City, including some it said were teenage fighters aged 14 to 16 who had recently received training. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told troops to "intensify the blows against Hamas" to complete the unit's mission and facilitate the freeing of hostages. Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on social media, "Gaza is burning. We will not relent or turn back until the mission is complete."

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply, according to the UN report and aid agencies. Medical facilities have been overwhelmed or destroyed, clean water and sanitation have collapsed in many areas, and food shortages have reached famine-like levels in some parts of the territory. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in tents and makeshift camps after fleeing urban combat zones.

The report prompted international responses. The U.K. foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, described the offensive as "utterly reckless and appalling," warning it would "only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages." British authorities are also providing medical treatment to wounded Palestinian children evacuated to the United Kingdom; U.K. hospitals have admitted between 30 and 50 patients, officials said. Reuters and other outlets reported that London was preparing to take steps toward formal recognition of a Palestinian state, an expected move that would mark a diplomatic shift.

The United States has continued to express support for Israel while calling for measures to protect civilians, a stance that some observers said was underscored by the presence of high-level U.S. officials in Jerusalem around the time of the most recent escalation.

The UN panel’s finding adds to international scrutiny of the eight-month-old campaign and its fallout. Legal experts and human rights organisations have for months documented mounting civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction and have urged measures to ensure humanitarian access, cease hostilities and investigate potential violations of international law. Israel says it is confronting an armed group that embeds fighters and military assets within civilian areas and blames Hamas for civilian suffering.

The panel recommended immediate international action to protect civilians, restore humanitarian access and pursue accountability through impartial investigations. It stressed that its legal findings do not in themselves determine criminal responsibility for specific individuals but urged that the allegations be investigated by appropriate judicial bodies.

As combat operations continued, aid groups warned that the combination of heavy fighting, blockade measures and damaged infrastructure threatened to worsen civilian suffering further. The military offensive and the UN finding are likely to shape diplomatic debates and potential legal actions in the weeks ahead, while thousands of displaced families remain without basic services amid ongoing strikes and ground operations.