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2025-09-17 Israel committing genocide in Gaza: UN commission – Learning English from the News

The story

An investigation by the United Nations, called a ‘commission of inquiry’, has found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

There are five acts of genocide defined under international law, and this report says that four out of the five acts have been carried out by Israel since the start of the war with Hamas in 2023.

The report also says there is evidence of genocidal intent in statements by Israeli leaders, and the actions of Israeli forces.

Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected the report, saying that it is “distorted and false”.

News headlines

Human rights experts join rising chorus that accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza
The Independent

UN inquiry says Israel’s war on Gaza is genocide, holds gov’t responsible 
Al Jazeera

Sloppy and slanted”: former Israeli PM on UN commission ‘genocide’ report
Channel 4 News

Key words and phrases

rising chorus
more and more people expressing the same idea 

  • There is a rising chorus of voices demanding action on climate change.

hold someone or something responsible
say something is to blame for something 

  • The court held the company responsible for discriminating against older employees.

sloppy
careless or messy 

  • His boss said his work was sloppy and made him do it again.

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