UN panel chief urges India to act on evidence against Israel
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Former Orissa High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar, who heads the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, has urged India to reconsider its stance on Israel, saying the country "cannot redeem ourselves for the future" if it ignores evidence of atrocities against Palestinians.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Justice Muralidhar said the Commission's latest report concluded that Israel deliberately targeted children during military operations in Gaza. The report documented the deaths of at least 20,179 Palestinian children and injuries to over 44,000 between October 2023 and October 2025.
Explaining the findings, Justice Muralidhar said the Commission relied on forensic analysis, geolocation, satellite imagery, military experts and witness testimonies. He alleged that Israeli forces used airstrikes, drones, quadcopters and snipers in ways that intentionally targeted children, citing testimony from doctors who treated victims.
He said the Commission sent 13 requests seeking information and access to Israel but received no response. However, investigators relied on publicly available material, including videos posted by Israeli soldiers, to corroborate evidence.
Justice Muralidhar also defended the Commission's conclusion that Israel's actions amount to genocide, pointing to widespread destruction of schools, universities, hospitals and agricultural land, along with statements by senior Israeli officials that, he said, demonstrated genocidal intent.
Calling on the international community to act, he said countries supplying arms to Israel, including India, should stop doing so, warning they could face accusations of aiding and abetting war crimes.
"I really want the Indian government to look at its foreign policy and ask: Are we going to permit fundamental humanitarian principles to be given a go-by? If we fail to act on evidence as stark as this, we cannot redeem ourselves for the future," Justice Muralidhar told The Indian Express.