FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2025
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Washington, D.C. | This morning, The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel issued its most powerful and damning conclusion to date: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. The Commission urges Israel and all States to fulfil their legal obligations under international law to end the genocide and punish those responsible for it. This means an official UN body, created by UN member States, has made an authoritative declaration of genocide—finding that Israeli authorities carried out four out of five possible acts of genocide, including mass killing, causing serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting life-destroying conditions, and measures aimed at preventing births—driven by explicit intent to destroy Palestinians as a people.
Palestinians, human rights defenders, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) rang the alarms about this genocide from the start. This genocide “finding”— which the ADC declared less than a week after October 7, 2023—comes at almost two years to the start of the genocide. From the start, the evidence has been overwhelming, the intent undeniable, and the obligation to act could not be clearer.
“The UN has spoken with clarity: Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. The world can no longer look away, make excuses, or hide behind political cover. Every party to the Genocide Convention has a legal and moral obligation to act—stop sending weapons, stop enabling this slaughter, and hold those responsible accountable,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC National Executive Director. “Every day of delay costs lives. Accountability is not optional—it is required by law, and by conscience. In addition, and importantly, we call on the U.S. Government to adhere these findings, and commit to implementing the recommendations put forth by the commission – this can start by immediately halting weapons sales and transfers to Israel.”
Amongst other findings, the report details Israel’s deliberate destruction of homes, schools, and cultural sites; the weaponization of starvation and denial of medical care; sexual and gender-based violence as collective punishment; and the deliberate targeting of children to erase the Palestinian future. Israel has not only committed genocide, but also ignored binding orders from the International Court of Justice and defied international law itself.
The Commission’s findings leave no room for hesitation. International law obligates all states—not just Israel—to prevent and punish genocide. Adding to the recent decisions of both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, in addition to the chorus of international organizations calling for an end to the genocide, this means:
- Ensure Israel’s immediate military and civilian withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, as well as the West Bank, including East Jerusalem;
- An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza;
- The restoration of full, UN-led humanitarian access including the resumption of UNRWA’s work;
- An end to all arms transfers and enabling inputs, including fuel, that facilitate Israel’s military campaign;
- Sanctions against governments, corporations, institutions, and individuals complicit in this genocide;
- Protection for medical staff and immediate access for medical evacuations.
The UN has reaffirmed what the global community has known – Genocide is happening now. The obligation to prevent and punish is universal. Silence is complicity, and history will judge those who fail to act.
The report is based on all the Commission’s prior investigations, as well as factual and legal findings in relation to attacks in Gaza carried out by Israeli forces, and the conduct and statements of Israeli authorities from 7 October 2023 until 31 July 2025. The Commission’s findings are based on a comprehensive examination of the underlying acts of genocide (actus reus) and genocidal intent (dolus specialis).