Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday it has carried out more than 850 airstrikes in Gaza City over the past week, targeting what it calls terrorist infrastructure and preparing the way for further ground operations. Hundreds of Palestinian fighters were also targeted, according to the military’s statement.
The campaign comes amid growing international scrutiny, including a recent United Nations report accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza.
Military Operations and IDF Statements
According to the IDF, the recent strikes in Gaza City have concentrated on high-rise buildings believed to house Hamas operatives, as well as other militant infrastructure. Israel says these operations are part of a phased strategy to weaken Hamas’s control and enhance its ability to deploy troops in contested urban areas.
Earlier in September, Israel stated it had gained control of roughly 40 percent of Gaza City, a claim that signals an expansion of its ground campaign.
UN Findings: Accusations of Genocide
On the same day, an Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which is tasked by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the occupied Palestinian territories, released a 72-page report. The commission alleges that Israel has committed four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention since October 7, 2023.
The UN Genocide Convention (1948) defines five acts that can constitute genocide if committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.
Here are the five acts under Article II of the Genocide Convention:
- Killing members of the group
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
- Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
The report also asserts that senior Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, played roles in incitement and directed policies that foreseeably placed civilians at risk.
Israeli Response
The Israeli government firmly rejected the UN report. In a statement, Israel described the findings as distorted and false, insisting its operations in Gaza are conducted in defense of its people and in accordance with international law. The government called for the disbandment of the inquiry and accused the report’s authors of bias.
Human Cost and International Reactions
Since the beginning of the war, Palestinian authorities have recorded the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza, with many of the victims reported to be civilians. Homes, hospitals, schools, and areas previously declared as “safe zones” have reportedly been struck, complicating evacuation efforts and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Neighboring states, human rights organizations, and international legal experts have voiced alarm. Some governments are calling for deeper investigations and accountability measures, including potential legal action under international law.
What Lies Ahead
With military operations continuing in Gaza City and international pressure mounting, the coming days are likely to see heightened diplomatic activity. Whether the UN report’s allegations will lead to legal proceedings or affect international support for Israel remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the IDF says its objective remains the dismantling of Hamas’s operational capabilities, the rescue of hostages, and securing strategic control, goals that the military claims justify the intensified assault despite growing civilian suffering and global condemnation.
