DaysofPal: Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza exhibits clear characteristics of genocide, with mass civilian casualties and conditions deliberately imposed to threaten Palestinian survival, according to a new report released Thursday, November 14, 2024, by the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices.
The report, which spans developments from October 2023 to July 2024, highlights the devastating impact of the war on Gaza, documenting Israel’s targeting of civilians, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and widespread destruction of essential infrastructure.
“Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life — food, water, and fuel,” the Committee stated. “These statements, along with the systematic and unlawful interference of humanitarian aid, make clear Israel’s intent to instrumentalize life-saving supplies for political and military gains.”
The Committee detailed how Israel’s siege and relentless airstrikes have caused a humanitarian catastrophe, describing targeted attacks on civilians and aid workers as violations of international law. Despite appeals from the UN, binding orders from the International Court of Justice, and Security Council resolutions, the report accused Israel of using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on Gaza’s population.
Environmental Catastrophe and Health Crisis
The report emphasizes the long-term consequences of Israel’s bombing campaign, which has destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure, leaving water and sanitation systems in ruins and unleashing environmental devastation.
By early 2024, over 25,000 tons of explosives—equivalent to the power of two nuclear bombs—had been dropped on Gaza, leading to toxic pollution, agricultural collapse, and irreversible damage to essential services.
“By destroying vital water, sanitation, and food systems and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come,” the Committee warned.
AI-Driven Military Operations
The report raises alarm over Israel’s use of AI-enhanced targeting systems in military operations, noting that these systems often operate with minimal human oversight. The resulting indiscriminate bombings have disproportionately affected civilians, particularly women and children.
“The Israeli military’s use of AI-assisted targeting, combined with heavy bombs, underscores its disregard of obligations to distinguish between civilians and combatants and to take adequate safeguards to prevent civilian deaths,” the report said.
Media Suppression
In addition to physical devastation, the Committee criticized Israel’s increasing media censorship, attacks on journalists, and suppression of dissent. It highlighted how social media platforms disproportionately remove pro-Palestinian content while allowing posts inciting violence against Palestinians to remain.
“This deliberate silencing of reporting, combined with disinformation and attacks on humanitarian workers, is a clear strategy to undermine the vital work of the UN, sever the lifeline of aid still reaching Gaza, and dismantle the international legal order,” the report stated.
The Committee also condemned ongoing smear campaigns against UN agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Calls for Accountibility
The report concluded by urging UN Member States to uphold their legal obligations, prevent violations of international law, and hold Israel accountable.
“It is the collective responsibility of every State to stop supporting the assault on Gaza and the apartheid system in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” the Committee said. “A failure to act weakens the very core of the international legal system and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing atrocities to go unchecked.”
The findings will be formally presented at the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly on November 18, 2024.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=58818
