AhlulBayt News Agency: An independent United Nations commission has accused Israel of committing genocide by attacking civilians who were sheltering in schools and religious sites in Gaza.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory made the accusation on Tuesday, stating that Israeli forces deliberately targeted civilians in protected locations.
The commission, chaired by former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, is scheduled to present its full findings to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 17, 2025.
According to the report, Israel has severely damaged Gaza’s education system and destroyed more than half of its religious and cultural landmarks.
The three-member panel accused Israeli forces of war crimes, including intentional attacks on civilians and killings at educational institutions.
The report concluded that by targeting civilians in schools and religious sites, Israeli forces committed the crime against humanity known as extermination.
Although the destruction of cultural property is not automatically considered genocide, the commission noted that such actions may indicate an intent to eliminate a protected group.
“There is growing evidence that Israel is conducting a systematic campaign to erase Palestinian life in Gaza,” said Navi Pillay in a statement.
The report documented attacks on religious sites used as shelters, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children.
The investigation reviewed Israeli strikes on schools, mosques, and cultural institutions, finding that over 90% of Gaza’s educational buildings and more than half of its religious and cultural sites have been destroyed.
Beyond Gaza, the report also highlighted intensified Israeli military activity in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds, along with increased harassment of students and settler violence.
Israel withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in February 2025, claiming the body was biased against it.
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