HRC INQUIRY ON THE ISRAEL "THE COMMISSION" 27/05/2021
By Human Rights Council-T.C.-Human Synthesis-16 May 2026
A/HRC/60/CRP.3
I. Introduction
1. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel ("the Commission") was established on 27 May 2021¹ by the Human Rights Council to, inter alia, investigate in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law leading up to and since 13 April 2021, and establish the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and abuses and of crimes perpetrated.
2. The Commission has been collecting and analysing evidence in relation to alleged violations committed by all parties to the conflict. The Commission has published three mandated reports² and three conference room papers detailing violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international crimes committed by all parties since 7 October 2021.
3 The Commission's legal findings in this report are primarily based on the factual findings contained in the reports that it has published since 7 October 2023, and findings from its mandated report that will be presented to the General Assembly in October 2025.
4 The Commission has relied on its own investigations but it is clear that its findings are not the only relevant facts and events for an analysis of genocide. The incidents included in this report are non-exhaustive of incidents relevant to an analysis of genocide.
3. In its previous reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, the Commission found that the Israeli security forces have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, including extermination, torture,rape, sexual violence and other inhumane acts, inhuman treatment, forcible transfer,persecution based on gender and starvation as a method of warfare. Furthermore, the Commission found that the Israeli authorities have (i) destroyed in part there productive capacity of the Palestinians in Gaza as a group, including by imposing measures intended to prevent births; and (ii) deliberately inflicted conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians as a group, both of which are underlying acts of genocide in the Rome Statute and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide ("Genocide Convention").
1 A/HRC/RES/S-30/12 A/HRC/56/26; A/79/232; A/HRC/59/26.3 "Detailed findings on attacks carried out on and after 7 October 2023 in Israel" (A/HRC/56/CRP.3),available at https://www.ohchr.org/.../hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions/regular/session56/a-hre-56-crp-3.pdf; "Detailed findings on the military operations and attacks carried out in the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 7 October to 31 December 2023"(A/HRC/56/CRP.4), available at https://www.ohchr.org/.../hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions/regular/session56/a-hre-56-crp-4.pdf; "More than a human can bear": Israel's systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023"(A/HRC/58/CRP.6), available at https://www.ohchr.org/.../hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions/regular/session58/a-hre-58-crp-6.pdf.4
Additionally, the Commission has published two position papers in relation to the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory,including East Jerusalem: "Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem: Request for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice" available at https://www.ohchr.org/.../hrcouncil/colopt/202309-ICJ-position-paper.pdf; and "Legal analysis and recommendations on implementation of the International Court of Justice, Advisory Opinion, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem", available at https://www.ohchr.org/.../hrcouncil/colopt/2024-10-18-COI-position-paper_co-israel.pdf.A/80/337.
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Immediately implement a complete permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end all military operations in the occupied Palestinian territory that involve the commission of genocidal acts;(c) Restore, allow and ensure unhindered access of all United Nations staff, including UN RWA international staff, and all international agencies coordinating or providing humanitarian aid in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem;(d) Immediately end its policy on starvation and end the distribution of food aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation;(e)
Ensure full, unimpeded access of humanitarian aid at scale and through multiple distribution points throughout the Gaza Strip, including food,clean water, medical equipment and medicine to all areas of Gaza through a UN-led humanitarian response;(f) Allow, facilitate and ensure unhindered medical evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza to third States;(g) Allow, facilitate and ensure the unhindered access to Gaza by emergency medical teams;(h) Allow the Commission access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, to continue its investigations;(i)
Investigate and punish the commission of genocide and incitement to genocide against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.257. The Commission recommends that all Member States:(a) Employ all means reasonably available to them to prevent the commission of genocide in the Gaza Strip;(b) Cease the transfer of arms and other equipment or items, including jet fuel, to the State of Israel or third States where there is reason to suspect their use in military operations that have involved or could involve the commission of genocide;(c)
Ensure individuals and corporations in their territories and within their jurisdiction are not involved in the commission of genocide, aiding and assisting the commission of genocide or incitement to commit genocide and investigate and prosecute those who may be implicated in these crimes under international law;(d) Facilitate the investigations and domestic proceedings and take action (including imposing sanctions) against the State of Israel and against individuals or corporations that are involved in or facilitating the commission of genocide or incitement to commit genocide;(e) Cooperate with the investigation of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.258.
The Commission recommends that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court:(a) Examine, within its continuing investigation in the Situation in the State of Palestine, the crime of genocide for amendment to existing arrest warrants and addition to future application for arrest warrants;(b) Examine the involvement of officials mentioned in this report for inclusion as those most responsible for international crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory.
A/HRC/60/CRP.3
Table of Contents
I. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
II. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
III. Underlying acts of genocide................................................................................................................................................................... 5A. Killing members of the group................................................................................................................................................................... 5i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 5ii. Summary of factual findings................................................................................................................................................................ 5iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 6B. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group....................................................................................................... 6i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 6ii. Summary of factual findings................................................................................................................................................................ 7a. Serious harm suffered as a result of environmental destruction................................................................................................... 7b. Serious harm suffered as a result of attacks against civilians and civilian structures................................................................ 7c. Serious harm suffered during and as a result of the evacuation process and expansion of the bufferzone........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7d. Serious harm caused by severe mistreatment.................................................................................................................................... 8e. Serious harm caused by sexual and gender-based violence......................................................................................................... 8iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 9C. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 10ii. Summary of factual findings.............................................................................................................................................................. 11a. Destruction of structures and land essential to Palestinians........................................................................................................ 11b. Destruction and denial of access to medical facilities and units................................................................................................... 11c. Forced displacement and its impact.................................................................................................................................................. 12d. Stopping entry of humanitarian aid, electricity, water and fuel supplies to Gaza.......................................................................... 13e. Reproductive violence and health and food impacts on women..................................................................................................... 14f. Impacts of reduced healthcare and food on children......................................................................................................................... 15iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 16D. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group........................................................................................................ 17i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 17ii. Summary of factual findings.............................................................................................................................................................. 17iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 18
IV. Dolus specialis of genocide..................................................................................................................................................................... 19A. Legal framework..................................................................................................................................................................................... 19B. Assessment of factual findings.............................................................................................................................................................. 20i. Statements of Israeli state actors........................................................................................................................................................ 20ii. Pattern of conduct................................................................................................................................................................................ 21a. Killing and causing bodily or mental harm...................................................................................................................................... 21b. Destruction of cultural, religious and educational structures and facilities..................................................................................... 21c. Siege, starvation and the blocking of humanitarian aid....................................................................................................................... 22d. Targeting of the healthcare system..................................................................................................................................................... 23e. Sexual and gender-based violence..................................................................................................................................................... 24f. Direct targeting of children.................................................................................................................................................................... 24C. Conclusion........................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
V. Direct and public incitement to commit genocide............................................................................................................................... 63VI. Legal consequences on States and their obligations........................................................................................................................... 64A. State of Israel......................................................................................................................................................................................... 67B. Third States........................................................................................................................................................................................... 67VII. Conclusions........................................................................................................................................................................................... 69VIII. Recommendations............................................................................................................................................................................... 71A/HRC/60/CRP.3Table of ContentsI. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3II. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................... 5III. Underlying acts of genocide................................................................................................................................................................... 5A. Killing members of the group................................................................................................................................................................... 5i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 5ii. Summary of factual findings................................................................................................................................................................ 5iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 6B. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group....................................................................................................... 6i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 6ii. Summary of factual findings................................................................................................................................................................ 7a. Serious harm suffered as a result of environmental destruction................................................................................................... 7b. Serious harm suffered as a result of attacks against civilians and civilian structures................................................................ 7c. Serious harm suffered during and as a result of the evacuation process and expansion of the bufferzone........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7d. Serious harm caused by severe mistreatment.................................................................................................................................... 8e. Serious harm caused by sexual and gender-based violence......................................................................................................... 8iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 9C. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction inwhole or in part....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 10ii. Summary of factual findings.............................................................................................................................................................. 11a. Destruction of structures and land essential to Palestinians........................................................................................................ 11b. Destruction and denial of access to medical facilities and units................................................................................................... 11c. Forced displacement and its impact.................................................................................................................................................. 12d. Stopping entry of humanitarian aid, electricity, water and fuel supplies to Gaza.......................................................................... 13e. Reproductive violence and health and food impacts on women..................................................................................................... 14f. Impacts of reduced healthcare and food on children......................................................................................................................... 15iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 16D. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group........................................................................................................ 17i. Legal framework.................................................................................................................................................................................. 17ii. Summary of factual findings.............................................................................................................................................................. 17iii. Analysis and conclusion..................................................................................................................................................................... 18IV. Dolus specialis of genocide..................................................................................................................................................................... 19A. Legal framework..................................................................................................................................................................................... 19B. Assessment of factual findings.............................................................................................................................................................. 20i. Statements of Israeli state actors........................................................................................................................................................ 20ii. Pattern of conduct................................................................................................................................................................................ 21a. Killing and causing bodily or mental harm...................................................................................................................................... 21b. Destruction of cultural, religious and educational structures and facilities..................................................................................... 21c. Siege, starvation and the blocking of humanitarian aid....................................................................................................................... 22d. Targeting of the healthcare system..................................................................................................................................................... 23e. Sexual and gender-based violence..................................................................................................................................................... 24f. Direct targeting of children.................................................................................................................................................................... 24C.
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................................................................... 25V. Direct and public incitement to commit genocide............................................................................................................................... 63
VI. Legal consequences on States and their obligations........................................................................................................................... 64A. State of Israel......................................................................................................................................................................................... 67B. Third States........................................................................................................................................................................................... 67VII. Conclusions........................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
