AMMAN, Jordan - A United Nations investigative committee has accused Israel of inflicting "unimaginable suffering" on Palestinians under occupation while rapidly seizing land in what it describes as a continuation of colonial expansion. The UN Special Committee on Israeli Practices warned that the current situation risks becoming "another Nakba," referencing the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948.

The committee, established by the UN General Assembly in 1968 to examine Israel's conduct in occupied territories, concluded its annual fact-finding mission in Amman after gathering testimonies detailing widespread atrocities, including mass killings, enforced disappearances, ethnic cleansing, and systemic torture.

Systematic Torture and Sexual Violence

Witnesses described a pattern of abuse by Israeli forces, including sexual violence as a deliberate tactic of humiliation and intimidation. "The methods read as a playbook of degradation," the committee stated. "First comes sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, then threats of rape, and then rape itself — including gang rape — often with objects like sticks and batons. This is inflicted on men, women, and even children."

Starvation as a Weapon in Gaza

The report condemned Israel's blockade on Gaza, calling it a deliberate strategy to starve civilians. "Trucks of food sit just kilometers away while Israel enforces policies that deprive an entire population of sustenance," the committee said. "It is hard to imagine a government would implement such depraved measures, yet this is the reality in Gaza."

Israel's Refusal to Cooperate

Israel has repeatedly ignored requests for dialogue and denied the committee access to occupied territories, including the West Bank, Gaza, and the Syrian Golan. "Israel's refusal to engage with UN bodies or comply with Security Council resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings shows its total disregard for international law," the committee said.

Call for Accountability and Action

The experts urged influential nations to apply political and economic pressure to halt Israel's "unlawful policies." They demanded an immediate end to the Gaza blockade, full support for UNRWA, and a halt to arms sales to Israel. "The world cannot stay silent," they said. "Impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity must end."

The committee's findings come amid escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank, with Palestinian casualties mounting and illegal settlements expanding. "The occupation must end," the report concluded. "Only then will these grave human rights violations stop."