What do genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity mean?
This article provides legal definitions for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as outlined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It follows a UN inquiry report alleging that Israeli forces targeted Palestinian children.
Why it matters
Understanding the precise legal definitions of international crimes is essential for interpreting reports on armed conflicts and human rights violations.
“Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, and war crimes in the occupied West Bank,” an independent U.N. inquiry said on Tuesday (June 23, 2026).
The article focuses on defining legal terms in the context of a specific report, maintaining a factual and explanatory tone.
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