74,000 Gaza Deaths Cited in New UN Genocide Report

A United Nations commission released a report on Monday stating that Israel continued to commit genocide in Gaza after the U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect last October. The document details the conflict from the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, through September of this year.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that Israeli forces used heavy munitions, drones, and artillery in densely populated areas during the truce. The report notes that the temporary demarcation line, known as the Yellow Line, has expanded into Gaza territory. This shift has created a de facto border that reflects Israel's growing control over the enclave.

Palestinian authorities state that more than 74,000 people have been killed in the assault on Gaza. This fighting began after Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The commission specifically examined violations against Palestinian children throughout this period.

The report also addresses conditions in the West Bank. It accuses Israeli soldiers and prison guards of war crimes, including extermination, torture, and sexual violence. The commission documented six recent cases of sexual violence against male detainees from Gaza at the Sde Teiman military prison.

Military operations in the West Bank have displaced 34,176 Palestinians as of August 2026. This marks the largest displacement since 1967. The report states that the number of Palestinians killed in airstrikes rose from six between 2008 and October 2023 to 254 from October 2023 to September 2026.

Israel dismissed the findings as part of a misinformation campaign. Ambassador Daniel Meron of the Israeli mission in Geneva said the report aims to undermine Israel's legitimacy. He described the effort as a continuation of the attempt to destroy the Jewish state.

Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said the intentional killing of civilians and destruction of homes in the West Bank forms part of a strategy to displace Palestinians. The commission also criticized the Palestinian Authority for targeting journalists and human rights defenders who voice dissenting views.