United Nations on Monday issued a stark warning to Israel, urging it to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of “genocide” in Gaza, while condemning what it described as increasing signs of “ethnic cleansing” in both the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

The warning came in a new report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who described Israeli actions since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, as serious violations of international law. The report stated that some military practices and policies may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Türk renewed calls for Israel to comply with the 2024 ruling issued by the International Court of Justice, which ordered measures aimed at preventing genocide in Gaza. He stressed the need for Israeli authorities to ensure their forces do not commit acts of genocide, prevent incitement to such crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable.

The report, which covered the period from the start of the war until May 2025, also condemned grave violations committed by Palestinian armed groups during the October 7 attacks and the violence that followed.

Rising Death Toll and Humanitarian Crisis

According to figures cited in the report, the 2023 Hamas-led attacks killed 1,221 people inside Israel, based on official Israeli data. In addition, 251 individuals were taken hostage into Gaza.

Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign across the Gaza Strip. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose casualty figures are considered credible by the UN, around 72,769 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war.

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement reached last October, violence and military operations have continued across different parts of the territory.

Allegations of Systematic Abuse in Israeli Detention Facilities

In a separate statement, the UN human rights office condemned what it described as systematic inhumane treatment of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

UN spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said Palestinian prisoners have faced torture, severe mistreatment, and sexual violence, including gender-based abuse. He also noted documented cases involving the rape of detainees, including minors.

The UN confirmed the deaths of at least 90 Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody since October 7, 2023. One of the victims, a 17-year-old boy, reportedly showed signs of severe starvation before his death.

The comments followed an investigative report published by The New York Times and written by journalist Nicholas Kristof, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse and rape committed against Palestinian prisoners by Israeli soldiers, settlers, and prison guards.

The UN described the situation as part of a broader “flawed detention and justice system” imposed on Palestinians, involving arbitrary arrests and unfair trials that violate international human rights standards.