Full Breakdown
UN Inquiry Finds Palestinian Civilians Trapped Between Israeli Forces, Settlers and Hamas
6/10/2026, 1:04:31 AM
Findings of the June 9 2026 UN Inquiry
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, mandated by the Human Rights Council in 2021, released its June 9 2026 report. The three-person panel concluded that Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are “systematically and deliberately” subjected to severe rights violations. It described a dual environment of “structural violence” by Israeli forces and “fear-based rule” by Hamas, while also documenting escalating attacks by Israeli settlers.
Historical Context
The inquiry follows Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered a large-scale Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The West Bank has remained under Israeli occupation since 1967, and settlement expansion has intensified since the war began. The commission previously determined in 2025 that Israel’s conduct in Gaza amounted to genocide.
Key Figures and Numbers
- West Bank deaths (Oct 2023-2026): >= 1,080 Palestinians (Palestinian Health Ministry).
- Settler-related violence (Jan 2023-Dec 2025): 26 Palestinians killed, 1,570 injured.
- Palestinian attacks on Israelis (2023-2025): 60 Israeli civilians killed, including 42 in the West Bank, of whom 36 were settlers.
- Gaza casualties: >= 72,800 Palestinian deaths (Gaza-run health ministry).
- Executions and severe physical violence in Gaza (2024-2025): 249 incidents, 108 deaths, 384 injuries; Hamas-affiliated forces involved in >= 60 cases.
Official Responses
Commission chair Srinivasan Muralidhar emphasized that “violence by settlers is the direct outcome of Israeli policies that support, enable and protect their actions.” The panel called on Israel to “immediately end the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory,” halt new settlement activity, and remove existing settlements. It also urged Gaza’s de-facto authorities to cease all extrajudicial punishments, including executions and torture.
Opposition to the Report
Israel’s mission in Geneva rejected the findings, stating the report “seeks to create a false equivalence between Hamas terrorists and Israeli civilians” and accusing investigators of “spreading misinformation and manipulating reality to serve political agendas.” Israeli officials have repeatedly described the commission as biased against Israel.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Violence by settlers is the direct outcome of Israeli policies that support, enable and protect their actions,” — Srinivasan Muralidhar, commission chair
- “What is alarmingly similar is the deliberate infliction of suffering on Palestinian civilians. While their origins and motivations differ, both operate within environments engineered by Israel,” — Srinivasan Muralidhar
- “This trend continues in 2026 with attacks carried out on a daily basis,” — UN investigators, report
- “tortured Palestinian civilians in the Nasser Medical Complex” — UN investigators, report
- “Israel’s mission in Geneva said the new report “seeks to create a false equivalence between Hamas terrorists and Israeli civilians”, accusing the investigators of “spreading misinformation and manipulating reality to serve political agendas”.” — Israeli mission, Geneva
Conflicting Data and Gaps
Gaza casualty figures rely on the Hamas-run health ministry, while Israeli authorities provide separate counts, creating an unresolved discrepancy. Independent verification of many settler-related incidents remains limited.
Upcoming Steps
The commission will present its findings to the UN Human Rights Council on 15 June 2026, urging an immediate end to settlement expansion and the implementation of its recommendations on civilian protection in Gaza.
