UN inquiry says Israel still committing genocide in Gaza after ceasefire, and crimes against humanity in West Bank

A UN commission of inquiry says Israel continues to commit genocidal acts in Gaza even after the ceasefire agreement, and has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied West Bank, in a report to the UN General Assembly published on Monday.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel found that Israeli authorities and forces “continue to commit genocidal acts even after the so-called ceasefire agreement, with the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part”, according to the UN human rights office.

In the West Bank, the commission said Israel, through military operations reinforced by sustained settler violence, has waged a “widespread and systematic attack” against civilians since 7 October 2023, targeting Palestinians on the basis of nationality, race and ethnicity, gender and age. It recorded six Palestinians killed by airstrikes in the West Bank between 2008 and 6 October 2023, against 254 between 7 October 2023 and 30 September 2026.

“The intentional killing and injuring of Palestinian civilians and destruction of homes in the West Bank combined with Israel’s persistent denial of responsibility form part of a broader strategy to exterminate and displace Palestinians and impose conditions of life that are unliveable,” said commission chair Srinivasan Muralidhar.

The report also found that military operations since January 2025 have led to the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967, with 34,176 Palestinians remaining displaced as of August 2026, and that the Palestinian Authority has targeted Palestinians voicing dissenting views. It recommends Israel comply with the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion, end the unlawful occupation and remove all settlers and settlements.

Israel rejected the findings. Its mission in Geneva said the report was part of a “misinformation campaign” against Israel, Reuters reported, while the Foreign Ministry called it a “propaganda document”, Haaretz reported. Muralidhar is due to present the report to the General Assembly’s Third Committee this week.

Sources:

• OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/10/israel-has-committed-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-occupied
• Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-inquiry-says-israel-kept-committing-genocide-gaza-after-truce-2026-10-26/
• Haaretz: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-10-26/ty-article/un-inquiry-accuses-israel-of-committing-crimes-against-humanity-in-west-bank/000001a1-78e5-dbdb-a7b1-f9e768690000