UN inquiry says Israel kept committing genocide in Gaza after truce

Independent investigators mandated by the United Nations have declared that Israeli authorities persisted in committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza following the implementation of a United States-brokered ceasefire, while simultaneously waging a widespread and systematic campaign of extermination and war crimes across the occupied West Bank. The comprehensive assessment, published on Monday, 26 October 2026, details a pattern of continuous military operations, territorial expansion, and grave human rights abuses spanning from the outbreak of hostilities on 7 October 2023 through September 2026.

The report from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel focuses heavily on the mechanics of military conduct during the truce. According to the investigation, Israeli forces continued deploying heavy munitions, drones, quadcopters, artillery, and sniper fire directly into densely populated areas of Gaza after the ceasefire took effect. Investigators highlighted that the temporary demarcation boundary known as the "Yellow Line" has progressively encroached deeper into the enclave, transforming into a permanent, de facto border that reflects an expansion of Israeli territorial control of Gaza.

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The commission's scrutiny extends deep into the West Bank, where investigators concluded that sustained illegal settler violence and military incursions formed components of a state policy intended to collectively punish civilians and displace the population. Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar stated that the intentional killing and injuring of civilians, combined with the destruction of residential housing, forms part of a broader strategy designed to impose unlivable conditions. The report documented a dramatic escalation in fatalities caused by airstrikes in the territory.

The human cost documented in the UN evaluation reflects stark disparities in reporting and casualties across the enclave. The commission noted that military operations since January 2025 have driven the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967. Meanwhile, health authorities in Gaza report that more than 74,000 people have died during the broader assault, which began in response to the 7 October 2023 attacks led by Hamas that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in southern Israel. The UN considers the Gaza health ministry casualty figures reliable, though independent experts suggest the actual toll could be significantly higher.

In addition to findings directed at Israeli forces, the commission faulted the Palestinian Authority for targeting dissenting voices, noting that journalists and human rights defenders had been injured or killed. The inquiry also documented explicit cases of sexual violence, including documentation of six specific incidents involving male detainees from Gaza held in the Sde Teiman military prison.

The government of Israel offered an immediate and forceful denunciation of the document. The Israeli mission in Geneva dismissed the findings as an elaborate misinformation campaign. Ambassador Daniel Meron stated in an official release:

"The attempt to destroy the Jewish state ... continues today through efforts by actors such as the UN Commission of Inquiry to undermine Israel’s legitimacy and deny its fundamental right to exist and defend itself."

Ambassador Daniel Meron, Israeli Mission in Geneva, via Reuters / CBC

The Israeli Foreign Ministry similarly characterized the dossier as a propaganda document detached from reality, arguing it serves primarily to delegitimize the state and shield militant groups. The sharp divergence in narrative has also played out across international media landscapes, with various outlets differing significantly in how they frame the commission's legal determinations versus official denials.

As the international community digests the sweeping conclusions of the report, attention turns to the immediate diplomatic and legal fallout. The UN commission has urged member states to enforce obligations aimed at preventing genocide, while demanding an immediate end to the occupation of Palestinian territories and the dismantling of settlements. Observers will monitor whether the findings influence ongoing deliberations in international courts or shift diplomatic postures as regional instability persists.