UN Report: Israel Seeks Permanent Control Over Gaza and Ensures Jewish Majority in the West Bank

A United Nations investigative committee stated today, Tuesday, that the Israeli government has shown a clear intention to impose permanent control over the Gaza Strip and ensure a Jewish majority in the occupied West Bank.

The committee issued a report today that provided historical background, identified the historical roots of land confiscation and population displacement, discrimination in land and housing, and the construction and expansion of settlements.

The report is scheduled to be presented at the 80th session of the General Assembly on October 28.

The report also includes a summary regarding Israel's behavior in the Gaza Strip under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, published on September 16 during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.

The committee concluded that four acts of genocide have occurred in Gaza, perpetrated by the Israeli authorities "with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinians" in the region.

It noted that the actions of Israeli leaders are attributed to the State of Israel; therefore, Israel, as a state, is responsible for committing genocide, for failing to prevent it, and for not punishing its perpetrators.

It found that "the Israeli president, prime minister, and former defense minister have incited the commission of genocide."

The report concluded that the Israeli authorities have systematically and extensively destroyed civilian infrastructure in the corridors and buffer zone of the Gaza Strip, continuously working to expand the areas under their control to reach 75% of the sector's area by last July.

By destroying civilian neighborhoods and forcibly relocating populations, the committee stated that the Israeli authorities have deliberately deprived Palestinians in Gaza of the essential resources for their survival.

Thus, it found that these actions have deliberately imposed harsh living conditions on Palestinians in Gaza, "intended to destroy them wholly or partially, which constitutes genocide."

The committee chair, Navi Pillay, stated in a press release: "Israel must immediately cease and reverse its confiscation and use of Palestinian land in Gaza, including the establishment and expansion of the buffer zone and corridors.

It must return all confiscated land to its Palestinian owners."

In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the committee stated that the Israeli policies and actions implemented since October 2023 "including explicit and implicit support for violent settler actions" have shown a clear intention to forcibly transfer Palestinians and expand the Israeli Jewish civilian presence.

The committee reiterated that the Israeli military operations in the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps - which began in early 2025 - "have significantly altered the geographical landscape by destroying buildings and infrastructure and displacing Palestinian populations."

The committee chair expressed her deep discontent with the recently announced plan by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank.

She added: "These developments confirm our conclusions.

The Israeli encroachment on all of the West Bank, and the displacement and expulsion of many Palestinian communities have now become explicit goals, proudly boasted about by Israeli officials.

These plans and statements are unacceptable and must be widely condemned."

Regarding the situation in Israel, the committee found that successive Israeli governments have implemented laws and policies aimed at reducing Palestinian space, including by restricting and limiting Palestinian towns and preventing and obstructing Palestinians with Israeli citizenship from moving and integrating into Jewish towns.

Additionally, "the informal barriers that have primarily arisen from the disparities and social and economic inequalities between the two population groups have become entrenched over decades, hindering integration," the committee stated.

The investigative committee noted that some policies and laws have been explicitly identified as discriminatory, while others have a discriminatory impact, leading to segregation.

The report identified six Israeli ministers as likely bearing the greatest responsibility for international crimes related to land and housing, as well as other crimes identified in previous committee reports.

Former "Defense" Minister Yoav Gallant and current "Defense" Minister Israel Katz "are responsible for the actions of Israeli security forces in Gaza."

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Settlements and National Projects Orit Strock "share responsibility for advancing the construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir "is responsible for the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli prison authorities."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is the highest authority responsible for Israel's conduct in all of the occupied Palestinian territory and is directly responsible for issuing orders to commit acts that constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide."

The committee urged the Israeli government to immediately end "the commission of genocide in the Gaza Strip," and to fully comply with