DaysofPal- UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Tuesday that he will refer the worsening situation in Gaza and the West Bank to the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking his strongest denunciation yet of Israel’s ongoing assault.
Speaking at a press conference, Guterres described events in Gaza as “horrific,” warning that the enclave is undergoing the “systematic destruction of the city.” He declared that the war in the Palestinian territories is “morally, politically, and legally unacceptable” and stressed that Israel appears determined to pursue its campaign in Gaza “all the way” without showing openness to serious peace talks.
The UN chief also signaled his willingness to meet next week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations to discuss ways forward. He highlighted the importance of mediation efforts, praising Qatar’s readiness to resume its role in brokering dialogue over Gaza.
On the same day, UN experts cautioned that Israel’s intensifying assault on Gaza City would have catastrophic consequences for civilians. They urged all UN member states to take urgent measures to prevent the worsening of genocide and famine in the enclave.
Their warning followed the release of a landmark report by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The commission accused Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of incitement to genocide, calling on the international community to halt the atrocities and ensure accountability.
The three-member commission, chaired by former UN human rights chief and Rwanda tribunal judge Navi Pillay, found that Israeli authorities and security forces had committed four of the five acts constituting genocide under the 1948 Convention: mass killings, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions designed to destroy the population and imposing measures intended to prevent births.
Pillay cited official statements by Israeli civilian and military leaders, combined with the systematic conduct of security forces, as evidence of genocidal intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza “in whole or in part.”
The report is the latest in a string of international condemnations of Israel’s Gaza campaign, which has already been described by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk as a “massacre.” Türk reiterated his call for Israel to “immediately halt” its ground offensive on Gaza City.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=67562
