The Chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Srinivasan Muralidharan, described what is happening in the Gaza Strip as 'hell' and declared that Israel is causing systematic child deaths and committing genocide.
In his statement, Muralidharan noted that infrastructure in Gaza has completely collapsed, there is no electricity or sewage services, and a large number of people have been displaced. Emphasizing that temporary shelters lack the most basic health conditions, the UN official said, 'The situation is extremely bad. Children are being specifically targeted, no one in Gaza is safe. Israeli drones are particularly striking children.'
Horrific Humanitarian Conditions
The Commission Chair reported that there is only one toilet for every 700 people in the area, privacy is zero, and this situation is horrific. Noting that there are many wounded in need of urgent medical evacuation, Muralidharan said that Israel is largely obstructing evacuations through the Rafah Border Crossing, and the process is proceeding very slowly and in a limited manner.
Recalling that on June 11, the Gaza Health Ministry announced that Israel was preventing the travel of 17,000 patients and wounded who had been approved for treatment abroad, Muralidharan said that Jordan, Egypt, and other neighboring countries are ready to receive patients, but Israel is deliberately obstructing the necessary medical evacuation numbers and the entry of humanitarian aid.
Genocide Evidence and Systematic Targeting
Muralidharan recalled that the commission published a detailed report in September 2025 containing all evidence of genocide in Gaza. He noted that the report included statements by Israeli lawmakers and politicians such as 'Every child in Gaza is an enemy, every child born in Palestine is a terrorist and must be eliminated,' and drew attention to the danger of such rhetoric.
Stressing that children are being systematically targeted, the official said, 'Cases have been documented where a baby was killed while the adult carrying them survived. Children carrying white flags, collecting firewood, or running after aid trucks were killed.' He said that despite Israel's claims that Hamas uses children as human shields, the documented examples involve children engaged in ordinary daily activities.
Muralidharan stated that what is happening in Gaza is 'an ongoing, systematic, and planned genocide,' and expressed that Israel has a clear intention to eliminate the continuity of Palestinians as a group.
International Reactions and Israel's Stance
Responding to a question about the existence of a ceasefire with 'Absolutely not,' Muralidharan said the commission's latest report, covering events up to March, also revealed there was no ceasefire. He reported that as a result of Israel's ceasefire violations, 1,127 Palestinians had been killed and 3,643 wounded by Thursday.
Noting that the commission sent its reports to the Palestinian Authority and Israel's permanent missions to the UN, but that Tel Aviv did not respond to any report, Muralidharan said Israel prevents the commission from entering the occupied territories, which limits the results of its work.
Touching on the international community's stance, the UN official said the general mood is beginning to change, with many ambassadors reporting that public opinion in their countries no longer equates sympathy for Palestinians with anti-Semitism. 'Especially when it comes to children, no one believes that logic,' he said.
Ridvan Sezer | Editor-in-Chief
