Image Credits: Ellie Smith

On 16th September, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory published a report confirming something that many of us were already very aware of: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. 

As outlined in Article II of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention), the act of genocide is defined using five acts (killing, causing significant physical or mental harm, purposfully trying to physically destory, preventing births, and forcibly transfering children). If any of these five acts are committed “with intent to destroy, in whole or in party, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”, it would constitute a genocide. 

Based on the above definition, the Commission found that the events in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 31 July 2025 constitute a genocide. In fact, it has been concluded that Israeli forces have committed four out of the five genocidal acts: killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, preventing births, and deliberate attempt to bring about the destruction of Palestinian people. The Chair of the Commission, Navi Pillay, stated in no uncertain terms that “it is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.” 

The report goes on to very clearly demand that “Israel must end its policy of starvation, lift the siege and facilitate and ensure the unimpeded access of all United Nations staff…and all recognised international humanitarian agencies delivering and coordinating aid.”

This marks the first time such a serious and clear allegation has been made by a UN body against Israel, and it comes shortly after a phase five famine was declared in Gaza on 22nd August 2025. According to the World Food Programme, the UN backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5 is the “most severe phase of hunger”. In fact, 100 per cent of the nearly 2 million people analysed by the IPC are currently either already dealing with or are exepcted to deal with this crisis or even worse levels of food insecurity by the end of the month. This famine is the result of Israel’s continued blockade of food and basic aid into the Gaza Strip, alongside the frequent airstrikes that have destroyed vital infrastructure. 

These reports from the UN have very quickly begun to shape the behaviour of politicians around the globe. On 21 September 2025, the United Kindom formally recognised Palestinian statehood, alongside Canada and Australia. In the words of Keir Starmer, this step has been taken to “revive the hope of peace and of peace and a two-state solution”, rather than make any meaningful moves to put an end to the genocide in Gaza. French President, Emmanuel Macron, also followed suit a day later, claiming that “nothing justifies the ongoing war in Gaza”. 

While this is undoubtedly a historic decision that has been taken by the various governments, it does not feel like enough. The UK government’s recognition of Palestinian statehood comes across as no more than a performative action, designed to help wash their hands of their complicity in the genocide of Palestinians. For several years now there have been many grassroots movements and human rights activists across the UK that have protested this country’s role in the genocide, namely the supplying parts of F-35 jets to Israel that may be used to attack Palestinians, to little success. 

What is actually needed from these governments is not performative gestures that do nothing to actively improve the situation in Palestine. Rather, actions with meaningful consequences, such as imposing sanctions and a permanent suspension of all arms licences (rather than a pathetic 29 out of 350), is the only way to aid the path to peace. 

This is especially apparent when Channel 4 News released an exclusive on 6th October, reporting that the UK’s arms exports to Israel have hit record highs in the last few months. In June 2025, the month before Keir Starmer pledged to recognise the Palestinian state, Israel imported their highest amount of arms from the UK, worth £400,000. It has also been reported that September 2025 saw the second highest value (over £310,000) of UK arms exports to Israel. 

This even further demonstrates how Keir Starmer and his government are full of empty promises when it comes to Palestine. It cannot be said for certain that these arms exports are going towards Israel’s genocide of Palestinians but equally, it is a very strong estimate. Even the possibility of this being the case should be enough for the UK to withdraw all arms liscences and implement a full trade embargo. 

Naturally, the bulk of responsibily for the atrocious crimes committed against the Palestinian people lies with the Israeli government and its military forces. However, the leaders of the nations that have for so long done little more than sit back and watch the murder of innocent civilians should also face repurcussions. Article I of the UN’s Genocide Convention, that was signed by the UK in 1970, very clearly states that genocide is considered a crime under the eyes of international law, and every nation that signed this agreement has a duty to prevent and punish it. Similarly, Article III of the Genocide Convention declares that complicity in genocide shall be punishable under international law. 

We do appear to be in an age where the people in power can seem to get away with almost anything, so it is quite difficult to predict what the long-term consequences of this report will be. That said, the incredibly clear conclusions of this report, and its equally clear demands of what is to be done, does provide a small shred of hope that something more significant is to come that could put an end to this genocide in Palestine.