“ In relation to Israel’s military operations and attacks in Gaza from 7 October, the Commission concluded that Israeli authorities were responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including extermination, intentionally directing attacks against civilians, murder or wilful killing, using starvation as a method of war, forcible transfer, gender persecution, sexual and gender-based violence amounting to torture, and cruel or inhuman treatment. Israel’s “total siege” of the Gaza Strip had weaponised the provision of life-sustaining necessities for strategic and political gains including through cutting off supplies of water, food, electricity, fuel and other essential supplies, including humanitarian assistance. It constituted collective punishment, disproportionately impacting pregnant women and persons with disabilities, and was causing grave harm to children, including starvation-related deaths. The deliberate use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas constituted an intentional attack on the civilian population. “
“ The Commission found Israeli forces committed sexual and gender-based violence with the intent to humiliate and further subordinate the Palestinian community. The Commission concluded that specific forms of sexual and gender-based violence constituted part of Israeli Security Forces’ operating procedures. The blatant disregard for international law across the entire occupied Palestinian territory had disproportionately impacted Palestinian children. In Gaza, Israeli Security Forces had killed and maimed tens of thousands of children, and thousands more likely remain under the rubble. Israeli attacks had also severely impacted infrastructure essential for children’s wellbeing, including hospitals, schools and basic services. “
“ On Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and subsequent Israeli attacks in Gaza have not occurred in a vacuum, they were preceded by decades of violence, retribution, dispossession, unlawful occupation, and denial of the Palestinian’s rights to self determination”, stated Navi Pillay, Chair Of The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem and Israel.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Chris Sidoti. stated : “ The only conclusion you can draw is that the Israeli army is one of the most criminal armies in the world.”
“ I don't know whether it's one of the most amoral armies in the world or not, but what I do have expertise in and what I do have authority to do is make assessments of criminal conduct,” said Commissioner Chris Sidoti. “And we've done that in relation to the recent events and you can see that in the report. This is the highest death toll ever in this protracted period of warfare…There must be accountability for every specific act of criminality.”
