UN Experts Declare Israel’s Gaza Operations Genocide Amid Rising Civilian Deaths

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified dramatically as over 320,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City due to relentless Israeli bombardment and a ground offensive, leaving many displaced families struggling to survive with makeshift shelters. A United Nations inquiry and multiple expert reports have declared the situation in Gaza a genocide, citing acts such as killings, causing serious bodily and mental harm, and deliberately inflicting destructive conditions on the Palestinian people. Political leaders, including Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael and Ireland's President Michael Higgins, have condemned the violence and urged global action, with Higgins calling for Israel and its arms suppliers, notably the United States, to be excluded from the United Nations due to their roles in the conflict. The US has significantly increased military support to Israel, supplying advanced weaponry and munitions amid the ongoing conflict. Pope Leo XIV has called for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the need to respect human dignity and seeking a negotiated diplomatic solution to end the suffering in Gaza. The UN Commission of Inquiry, based on extensive investigations, has found Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza, underscoring the legal obligations of states to prevent and punish such crimes worldwide.