A recent United Nations Special Committee report has accused Israel of conducting actions in Gaza that are consistent with the characteristics of genocide. The report highlights mass civilian casualties, the use of starvation as a weapon, and intentional causing of death and serious injury to the Palestinian population.
The committee pointed out that Israel's siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, targeted attacks on civilians and aid workers, and the use of AI-assisted targeting with minimal human oversight are all contributing to the dire situation in the region.
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide, stating that its military actions are in self-defense and aimed at targeting Hamas rather than Palestinians. The UN report comes after Human Rights Watch released a separate report detailing forced mass displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been described as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
Despite warnings of famine in Gaza, the US administration has assessed that Israel is not blocking aid and therefore not violating US law governing foreign military assistance. However, on the ground, reports indicate a chronic lack of food and water, with civilians suffering from hunger and thirst.
The World Health Organization has also warned of an imminent famine in the northern Gaza Strip, adding to the urgency of the situation. The accounts of desperate civilians paint a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
