Immediate Reaction to UN Commission of Inquiry’s Conclusion on Genocide in Gaza amid Mass Forced Displacement

While the final legal decision is made by the International Court of Justice, the ICJ has prior to this already repeatedly ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide and enable principled life-saving aid. These injunctions have been consistently ignored. In accordance with the UN Convention on Genocide, governments must act immediately.

“The findings by the COI leaves no room for doubt. It is now the responsibility of governments to take action to bring it to an end, rather than continue to hide behind words that carry little to no consequences. The absolute gravity of this crime demands urgent measures that cannot be postponed. Any failure to act will only abandon Palestinians in Gaza, and entrench the notion that protection of civilians under international law can be applied selectively. Such inaction will leave a lasting stain on our shared humanity, one that will not fade with time.’’ - Lilu Thapa, DRC Executive Director Middle East and North Africa.

The unjustifiable scale and severity of violations identified by the UN CoI for genocide have all but rendered Gaza uninhabitable. The deliberate and systematic destruction, killing of civilians, forced displacement, famine and the obstruction of aid are incompatible with international humanitarian law (IHL). Whole neighbourhoods have been razed, hospitals and schools have been deliberately targeted, agricultural land and infrastructure vital to sustain life have been destroyed.

Aid workers have been denied access or directly attacked while trying to reach civilians countless times, while militarized distribution schemes continue to harm and kill civilians. We are now also witnessing the escalation of the Gaza City offensive, marked by mass forced displacement orders for nearly one million people under bombardment, and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

“The upcoming UN General Assembly must act on these findings and use its authority to demand a ceasefire, and agree on concrete, swift and timebound actions, ensure accountability for atrocity crimes and safeguard the primacy of international law in the face of these genocidal acts.’’ - Charlotte Slente, Secretary General - DRC.

DRC calls for:

• An immediate, sustained ceasefire, release of all hostages and prisoners unlawfully detained and guarantees for protection of civilians, in line with international humanitarian law.
• An immediate end to the Israeli offensive on Gaza City, including forced displacement orders, and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure.
• The full implementation of ICJ provisional measures, including the unhindered entry and distribution of aid including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies; restoration of essential services; and prevention of all acts under the Genocide Convention.
• The immediate end to measures that amount to collective punishment, including siege tactics and displacement orders that have repeatedly forced civilians into shrinking, unsafe areas.
• Preservation of humanitarian operations and personnel, with full reestablishment of the impartial and need-based UN-led response across Gaza and dismantling of the GHF militarized distribution scheme.
• Independent, credible accountability for atrocity crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law, with support for international accountability mechanisms.

Notes to editors

• The UN CoI report (13 March 2025) identified genocidal acts including the deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to destroy Palestinians in Gaza and measures intended to prevent births; it also documented sexual and reproductive violence and starvation as a method of warfare.
• The UN CoI report of 16 September 2025 concludes ‘on reasonable grounds that the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have committed and are continuing to commit the following actus reus of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, namely (i) killing members of the group; (ii) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (iii) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (iv) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.’
• These conclusions follow similar findings of international, Israeli and Palestinian humanitarian and human rights organisations, including, but not limited to, Amnesty International, B’Tselem, Doctor Without Borders (MSF), Human rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights Israel.
• UN experts have repeatedly warned states to act to end the unfolding genocide and remove barriers to life-saving aid.
• The ICJ has issued multiple provisional measures obligating Israel to prevent acts under the Genocide Convention and to enable humanitarian assistance.
• Ongoing UN/OCHA updates document mass displacement, civilian harm, and famine conditions, underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire and safe humanitarian access.