UN commission accuses Israel of crimes in West Bank
Independent inquiry commission also says genocide is taking place in Gaza; Israel rejects the allegations.
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An independent United Nations inquiry commission has accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank. In the same report, the commission says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a characterisation Israel rejects and which does not amount to a judicial ruling.
On Monday, the commission presented a new report on the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. According to the investigators, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated sharply since October 2023 as a result of Israeli military operations, settler violence, forced displacement and restrictions on Palestinian residents.
Alongside war crimes, the investigators cite crimes against humanity. They accuse Israel, among other things, of extermination, persecution and torture. The commission says its findings are based on investigations into fatal and other serious harm caused by state actors. According to the commission, the incidents described are connected to policies and patterns of conduct.
The commission also says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. According to the report, conditions have arisen since the beginning of the conflict that, in the investigators’ view, fall under the legal definition of genocide. That conclusion comes from a UN-mandated commission and is not a binding ruling by the International Court of Justice or a judgment by a criminal court.
The report also includes sexual violence among the allegations against Israeli soldiers and guards. The commission says it bases these characterisations on collected evidence. The Associated Press reports that Israel denies the allegations of genocide and sexual violence. The commission and Israel thus present fundamentally different accounts of the nature of the violence and responsibility for it.
The publication could affect international discussions about accountability and possible prosecutions. The facts and patterns described could be relevant to future proceedings. That does not mean a prosecuting authority will automatically adopt the conclusions: separate legal assessments would be required for that.
For European governments and Dutch readers, the report is relevant because it could increase pressure on diplomatic relations with Israel and on the debate over arms exports, sanctions and support for international legal mechanisms. At the same time, the assessment of the evidence remains contested. The commission operates independently within a UN mandate, but its report is not itself a judicial judgment and imposes no new measures.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- An independent UN inquiry commission published a report on 26 October about the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
- The commission accuses Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank.
- The commission says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza; Israel rejects the allegations.
- The report is not a binding judicial ruling and does not itself impose sanctions or other measures.
Left
Arguments A left-wing approach emphasises that international law must protect civilians, including when a powerful state is involved. It would call for independent prosecutions, the suspension of support that could contribute to serious violations, and political pressure to end the occupation and unequal power relations.
Values Human rights, equality, the protection of civilians and the universal application of international law.
Consequences Without clear consequences, this approach fears, reports will remain symbolic and violations may continue. Tougher measures could at the same time increase diplomatic and humanitarian tensions.
Centre
Arguments An institutional approach seeks to investigate the findings seriously without treating a report immediately as a definitive judgment. It calls for independent assessment of the evidence, pressure on all parties to comply with international law, and measures that are legally enforceable and targeted.
Values The rule of law, standards of evidence, proportionality and diplomatic responsibility.
Consequences This course could protect the credibility of international institutions, but there is a risk that proceedings will move slowly while the situation on the ground deteriorates.
Right
Arguments A right-wing approach emphasises that serious legal terms should be used cautiously and that Israel has the right to defend itself against armed groups. It would warn that a one-sided focus on Israel underestimates the role of Hamas and other armed actors and could hinder international mediation.
Values Security, national sovereignty, combating terrorism and restraint in the use of international power.
Consequences According to this approach, one-sided sanctions or political condemnations could further isolate Israel and reduce its willingness to co-operate. The counterargument is that placing too much emphasis on security without scrutinising military action could reinforce impunity.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The factual core is based directly on the new report and an independent AP account. Legal characterisations are consistently attributed to the commission and are not presented as established judicial findings.
- confirmed The UN inquiry commission published a new report on 26 October about the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. — This is stated in the report’s publication and AP’s coverage. source
- confirmed The commission accuses Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank. — The report’s official summary mentions these characterisations. source
- confirmed In its report, the commission refers to genocide in Gaza. — The commission presents that conclusion; AP describes the same finding. source
- confirmed Israel denies the allegations of genocide and sexual violence. — AP reports that Israel rejects the allegations. source
- confirmed The report is not a binding judicial ruling. — The source describes an inquiry commission; the article explicitly distinguishes it from a court judgment. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the UN inquiry commission published a report on 26 October containing serious legal characterisations. The allegations are the commission’s conclusions, not a definitive judicial ruling; Israel denies them.Sources
- UN-commissioned experts say Gaza ceasefire has not stopped Israel from committing genocide — Associated Press
- Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amid continuing genocide in Gaza, UN Commission of Inquiry finds — OHCHR via The National Tribune
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „verenigde naties”
- AD — „verenigde naties”
- de Volkskrant — „verenigde naties”