Israeli leaders in the UN spotlight: accused of genocide in Gaza

16th September 2025

1 minute read

Israeli leaders in the UN spotlight: accused of genocide in Gaza

A United Nations commission of inquiry has placed Israeli leaders in the dock over accusations of an ongoing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

In a report released on Tuesday, an independent international commission of inquiry under the UN concluded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant “incited the commission of genocide” in Gaza.

The commission stated that “President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and former Defense Minister Gallant incited genocide,” stressing that Israeli authorities have taken no action to hold them accountable for such incitement.

In response, Israel said on Tuesday it “categorically rejects” the commission’s findings, which accuse Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza since October 2023.

A statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Tel Aviv declared: “Israel categorically rejects this biased and false report and calls for the immediate dissolution of this commission of inquiry.”

Two days earlier, the UN General Assembly had adopted the “New York Declaration,” aimed at reinvigorating the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This initiative comes just ten days ahead of a summit scheduled for September 22 at the United Nations, co-chaired by Paris and Riyadh, during which French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to recognize the State of Palestine.

The resolution, passed with a broad majority of 142 votes in favor, 10 against (including Israel and the United States), and 12 abstentions, explicitly condemns the Hamas movement and calls on it to lay down its arms.