GENEVA/NEW YORK — A new report from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry has found that the Israeli government has demonstrated a clear and consistent intent to establish permanent control over the Gaza Strip, while simultaneously working to ensure a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank and within Israel itself. The findings were released Tuesday following a comprehensive investigation into land and housing policies.
The report, which builds on a previous conference room paper from the Commission, also reiterated and expanded on its findings that Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza. The Commission concluded that the “Israeli authorities and security forces with specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.” The report names several high-ranking Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as responsible for or having incited the commission of genocide.
Navi Pillay, Chair of the Commission, stated that Israeli actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the systematic demolition of civilian infrastructure and the expansion of a “buffer zone” to control 75% of the territory by July 2025, are designed to deprive Palestinians of resources indispensable for their survival.
“Israel must immediately end and reverse its confiscation and use of Palestinian land in Gaza, including for the creation and expansion of the buffer zone and corridors,” said Pillay. She added that “Israeli confiscation and control of land ostensibly carried out for security purposes have not achieved more security for anyone but have deepened the misery of the Palestinian people and deprived them of resources indispensable for their survival, including the capacity to produce food.”
Broader Strategy in the West Bank: The Commission’s report also found that in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israeli policies since October 2023—including “explicit and implicit support for actions of violent settlers”—demonstrate a clear intent to forcibly transfer Palestinians and annex the entire West Bank. This, the report says, is aimed at preventing any possibility of a Palestinian state and maintaining an indefinite occupation.
Pillay condemned a recent plan by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to annex 82% of the West Bank, noting that this and similar statements from officials “corroborate our findings” and are “abhorrent and must be condemned widely.” The report also found that Israeli military operations in refugee camps like Jenin and Tulkarem constitute collective punishment, as buildings destroyed were not militarily justified.
Senior Officials Held Responsible: The report identifies six Israeli ministers as likely bearing the most responsibility for international crimes related to land and housing, as well as other alleged crimes. The list includes:
Former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant and current Minister of Defence Israel Katz for actions in Gaza.
Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Settlements and National Projects Orit Strock for settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir for the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is named as ultimately responsible for Israel’s conduct and directly responsible for ordering acts that constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of genocide. He and former Minister Gallant are also cited for the crime of incitement to genocide.
The Commission has urged the Israeli government to immediately end its commission of genocide in Gaza, comply with all provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, and end its “unlawful occupation” of Palestinian territory.
The report will be formally presented to the UN General Assembly on October 28, 2025.
Source: United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel (OHCHR)
