Israeli legal group challenges UN inquiry over applying double standards to Israel, Hamas

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice released a 48-page report accusing the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry of applying double standards in its investigations of Israel and Hamas. The report argues the commission traces alleged Israeli violations to named officials and state policy, while describing Palestinian perpetrators in general terms as armed groups or militants, calling for the commission's termination.

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli legal advocacy group, released a 48-page report on Tuesday accusing the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory of applying double standards in its investigations of Israel and Hamas. The report examined nine major commission reports issued between its establishment in 2021 and May 2026, alongside UN documents, budget records, and public statements by commissioners. The institute's central argument is that the commission repeatedly connects alleged Israeli violations to named officials, military units, government institutions, and state policy, while more often describing Palestinian perpetrators as armed groups, militants, attackers, or members of military wings. The report focuses in part on the commission's June 2024 findings concerning the October 7 massacre and the first months of the war. The institute acknowledges the commission's separate detailed investigation found that the October 7 attack was led and coordinated by Hamas and documented indications of standing operational instructions, but argues that Hamas's leadership and institutional responsibility did not receive the same depth of analysis. The report also alleges an evidentiary double standard, saying the commission rejected Israeli military explanations while relying on information from Palestinian authorities, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, and advocacy groups without explaining independent verification. The commission has said its findings are based on interviews, submissions, satellite imagery, and verified open-source material, and that Israel's refusal to cooperate obstructed investigations. The institute called on UN member states to terminate the commission and replace it with time-limited investigations.