UN Experts: Genocide in Gaza Continues Despite Ceasefire Deal

A group of independent UN-appointed experts stated in a new report released Monday that a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip has not halted the genocide perpetrated by Israel in the enclave. The experts also accused Israeli forces of committing crimes against humanity, including torture and rape, in the occupied West Bank. The report detailed accounts of Palestinian detainees experiencing sexual abuse by prison guards and soldiers since October 2023. One account described female guards strip-searching a pregnant Palestinian woman, including touching sensitive areas. Another described guards beating a detainee, using sexually abusive language, and denying her access to a toilet or sanitary pads, leading to bleeding that stained her clothes and the interrogation chair.

The report emphasized that Israel "continues to commit deliberate acts of genocide, intended to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza, in whole or in part." The findings echo previous accusations, including a June report by an independent UN commission that accused Israel of continuing genocide and other atrocities through the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children. That commission also stated Israeli authorities and security forces were committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Gaza by intentionally targeting children, and war crimes in the West Bank.

Separately, a July poll by the Associated Press and NORC Public Affairs Research found that about 30% of American Jewish adults believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. A study by Brandeis University's Cohen Center for Jewish Studies in August 2026 indicated that 74% of US university students acknowledge Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Official Palestinian data reveals that at least 21,976 children have been killed in Gaza since October 7.