No More Excuses: The Lemkin Institute Welcomes the UN Commission of Inquiry’s Report Declaring Genocide in Gaza

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security welcomes the publication of the 72-page report (A/HRC/60/CRP.3) by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel (COI), published on 16 September 2025, which concludes that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. With the publication of this report, all states are now required by the Genocide Convention to do everything in their power to stop Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. There are no more excuses for inaction.

The report analyzes extensive evidence that was collected between 7 October 2023 and 31 July 2025 to conclude that Israel has committed four of the five acts of genocide identified by the 1948 Genocide Convention, namely:

Killing members of the group;
Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part; and
Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.

Importantly, the report finds extensive evidence of the Israeli government’s ‘specific intent’ (Dolus Specialis) for genocide required by conventional legal interpretations of the Genocide Convention. Navi Pillay, head of the COI, told journalists: “The commission concludes that statements made by Israeli authorities are direct evidence of genocidal intent … genocidal intent was the only reasonable inference that can be drawn from the totality of the evidence”.

In addition to specific intent, the report also addresses the role and responsibility of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, and President Isaac Herzog in inciting genocide according to article III(c) of the Genocide Convention. These accusations come in addition to the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant (as well as Hamas commander Mohammed Deif) that were issued in 2024 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The findings of specific intent are essential. Proving genocidal intent has often been the most difficult hurdle in genocide prosecutions, since it requires demonstrating that perpetrators acted only with the conscious aim of destroying, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. By clearly establishing specific intent for senior officials of the Israeli state, the COI strengthens the legal basis for accountability and closes a gap that has historically allowed perpetrators of mass atrocities to escape charges of genocide at international trials.

Pillay explained that “because these three individuals were agents of the state, the state is held responsible. So we say it’s [the] State of Israel that has committed genocide.” The report also examined statements by other Israeli officials, politicians, and members of the Security Council and War Cabinet.

It is now up to the nations of the world to take action to stop this genocide, as required by international law. We urge that this report be followed by concrete steps, which have been strikingly absent up to this moment. Israel’s allies must place pressure on Israel to immediately cease its attacks on Gaza and end the blockade. If they do not, or if Israel refuses, we call on the UN General Assembly to use the Uniting for Peace resolution to call for an armed humanitarian intervention into Gaza to restore peace and security and ensure the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid.