A United Nations committee has charged that Israel’s military actions in Gaza exhibit “characteristics of genocide,” citing widespread civilian casualties, catastrophic living conditions, and severe restrictions on essential supplies, which the committee alleges amount to “using starvation as a method of war.”

In a damning report, the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices documented alarming conditions in Gaza since October 2023, condemning Israel’s policies for depriving Palestinians of basic necessities, such as food, water, and fuel, and obstructing humanitarian aid. “These actions make clear Israel’s intent to instrumentalize life-saving supplies for political and military gains,” the committee stated.

The report highlights the devastating toll of Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, noting that by early 2024, over 25,000 tons of explosives—equivalent to two nuclear bombs—had been deployed. This bombardment has crippled Gaza’s infrastructure, collapsing water and sanitation systems and triggering an environmental crisis that poses long-term health risks. "By destroying vital water, sanitation, and food systems, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come,” the report warns.

The committee also raised ethical concerns over Israel’s use of artificial intelligence in military targeting. The report asserts that AI-enhanced targeting systems have been applied with “minimal human oversight,” disproportionately affecting civilians, particularly women and children, and breaching the obligation to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.

The report further criticizes Israel’s intensified restrictions on media and its targeting of journalists, accusing the government of deliberately obstructing global access to information on Gaza. Social media companies, the committee claims, have also engaged in “disproportionate removal of pro-Palestinian content,” exacerbating media censorship.

Additionally, the committee condemned attacks on UNRWA and other UN agencies, describing these actions as attempts to dismantle international legal standards and disrupt critical humanitarian assistance to Gaza. “This deliberate silencing of reporting and attacks on humanitarian workers undermines the UN’s mission and the global legal order,” the committee stated.

The UN committee concluded by urging all Member States to fulfill their legal responsibilities to uphold international law and prevent further escalation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. “Upholding international law and ensuring accountability rests squarely on Member States. Failing to act sets a dangerous precedent, allowing atrocities to go unchecked,” the committee warned, calling on the global community to take immediate action. (ILKHA)