UN Officials, Experts Label Israel's Gaza Offensive Genocide Amid Denials

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, describing it as a humanitarian catastrophe and urging the full implementation of International Court of Justice measures related to genocide allegations. A growing number of experts, including U.N.-appointed authorities, assert that Israel's military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, deepening its international isolation despite Israel's strong denials and claims that such accusations are veiled antisemitism. The conflict, sparked by Hamas' October 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in hostages, has since led to massive destruction, famine, and over 65,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Some European allies of Israel have condemned the current offensive, while Israeli officials argue their operations comply with international law and emphasize efforts to protect civilians. The debate over genocide centers on whether a state founded after the Holocaust could itself be committing such crimes, with Palestinians and various observers accusing Israel of forcible expulsion through support for mass relocation from Gaza. The issue remains a major focus as the UN General Assembly session opens and activists continue to highlight the ongoing crisis and its broader geopolitical implications.