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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/a-landmark-un-report-on-gaza-genocide-professor-triestino-mariniello-explains/">palestinechronicle.com</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div><h1 class="gmail-reader-title">A Landmark UN Report on Gaza Genocide: Professor Triestino Mariniello Explains</h1>September 16, 2025</div>
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<img src="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Pillay_UN_UN.png" alt="" title="Pillay_UN_UN" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" width="395" height="265" style="margin-right: 25px;">
Former South African judge Navi Pillay. (Photo: via UN website)
<p><strong>By <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/romana-rubeo" title="Display all articles for Romana Rubeo">Romana Rubeo</a></strong> </p>
<blockquote>
<h3><span>In this Palestine Chronicle exclusive, Mariniello explains why
the UN\u2019s landmark inquiry has, for the first time, defined Israel\u2019s
actions in Gaza as genocide \u2014 and what this means for international
justice.</span></h3>
</blockquote>
<p><span>The United Nations Independent International Commission of
Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released a landmark report
on Tuesday. For the first time, a UN body concluded that Israel is
committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.</span></p>
<p><span>To understand the significance of this finding, we spoke with
Professor Triestino Mariniello, international law expert and member of
the legal team representing Gaza victims before the International
Criminal Court.</span></p>
<h4><b>Why is this UN Report Historic?</b></h4>
<p><span>\u201cThe report is of historic importance, because it is
unprecedented,\u201d Professor Triestino Mariniello told the Palestine
Chronicle. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cIt is the first time that a United Nations commission of inquiry has reached such a conclusion.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span>He noted that in the past, UN commissions had accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cBut they had never gone so far as to say that
Israel is also responsible for what represents the most serious crime at
the international level: the crime of genocide.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<h4><b>What Makes the Commission Credible?</b></h4>
<p><span>According to Mariniello, the authority of the commission and its members gives the report particular weight. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cFirst of all, from the authority of the commission
itself and its commissioners. For example, Navi Pillay, internationally
known, was also a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for
Rwanda.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<h4><strong>On What Evidence are the Findings Based?</strong></h4>
<p><span>\u201cThe report is based on direct evidence,\u201d Mariniello explained. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cIt essentially confirms what has already been said by a long list of international organizations, especially Palestinian ones.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span>He stressed that the conclusions align with those of these
organizations: \u201cThe report says that the objective of the Israeli
authorities in Gaza is not, as claimed, to destroy Hamas or to bring
hostages home, but\u2014as the report states\u2014to kill as many Palestinians as
possible and to make Gaza unlivable for the survivors.\u201d</span></p>
<h4><b>What is the Impact on International Justice?</b></h4>
<p><span>Although not formally binding, Mariniello pointed out that such reports have a strong influence. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cThe reports of UN commissions of inquiry are not
formally binding for the work of international courts, but they have a
strong persuasive value. And this is the most important aspect.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p><span>\u201cAll commissions are in direct contact with international tribunals,\u201d Mariniello recalled. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cIn the past, for example, when dealing with the
situation in Sudan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) took them
into consideration for investigations.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<p><span>He added: \u201cWhat I expect\u2014and hope\u2014is that the same will happen
now: that this report will have a strong persuasive impact on the
International Court of Justice (ICJ), which cannot ignore what the
commissioners have said, and above all on the Office of the Prosecutor
of the ICC, which should expand the scope of the investigations and
finally cover the crime of genocide.\u201d</span></p>
<h4><strong>What Does This Mean Going Forward?</strong></h4>
<p><span>\u201cFrom an evidentiary standpoint, there are no more excuses for
the Prosecutor,\u201d Mariniello concluded. The commission\u2019s report
consolidates years of work by Palestinian and international
organizations and gives it the UN seal. </span></p>
<blockquote><p><span>\u201cThis gives unprecedented legal and political weight to the charge of genocide in Gaza.\u201d</span></p></blockquote>
<p><em>(The Palestine Chronicle)</em></p>
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<p><br></p>
<p><span><i><span>\u2013 Romana Rubeo is an Italian writer and the managing
editor of The Palestine Chronicle. Her articles appeared in many online
newspapers and academic journals. She holds a Master\u2019s Degree in Foreign
Languages and Literature and specializes in audio-visual and journalism
translation.</span></i></span></p></div>
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