In an exclusive interview, Mehdi speaks with two of the UN commissioners behind the shocking new report, which lays out the evidence for the crime of crimes.
And now what? Will this change anything? Can and will the International community and international institutions step forward and force Israel to comply with the UN resolutions since 1967? Can they get Israeli out of the occupied territories, dismantle ALL THE ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS and get back into their borders? Can and will Israël be held accountable (financially) for all the infrastructure destruction and the lives of innocent Palestinians both Muslims and Christians? Will the war criminals be brought to the ICC? At this point in time we are dealing with reports that are no more than words. It is time for ACTS. As one man all states must speak together and their voices must become one voice.
I don't know. Right now I am not expecting the leadership in the US to stop the occupation of Gaza or other illegal settlements by Israel. More and more countries are speaking out but not doing anything.
Soon we will be having this same discussion about Venezuela if Trump continues the trajectory he has begun with bombing boats and killing their inhabitants. Where is that headed?
Let’s not compare a possible escalation between Venezuela and the USA with the genocide taking place in Gaza and the forceful displacement of Palestinians since 1947-48 and the illegal occupation of Palestinian land since 1967. The EU could decide to take every sanction in the world and even if the UK joined us in such a decision, as long as the USA subsidizes and protects Israel there will be no progress and therefore no solution. Israel feels it is granted total immunity whatever Israeli do. They have lived under the holocaust umbrella for the past 80 years but the people in the EU have opened their eyes. Most Israelis are no better than the Nazi Germans were. Even worse because they were persecuted and now they are doing it to other people. And the world knows what is happening in front of our eyes. In 2025 media spreads information widely.
Candide I am not equating, just predicting and worrying that Trump will be doing to Venezuela what Israel is doing to Palestinians. I do not see any solution for Israel coming from the US government as long as it is in Trump's hands. I know that the countries in Europe speaking out against Israel are weak tea. They are not having any effect on Netanyahu. However, global boycotts might have an effect. That is what helped to bring down Apartheid in South Africa.
Unfortunately Democrats and Republicans have both held the same policy in the Middle East. The present genocide in Gaza started when Biden was the POTUS.
Not all Democrats. The Social Democratic part of the party has spoken out against the genocide. However one will need to elect more Social Democrats to get change in the US.
There actually is precedent in the UN to bypass the Security Council and authorize an armed force, it's been done before.
Former senior UN human rights chief Craig Mokhiber and the organization People Against Genocide Everywhere have laid out a 3-phase plan that describes how this could work:
Because the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that Israel does not hold sovereignty in Gaza or any other part of the occupied territories. It has no right to be there and has no authority or decision-making power over what happens there. That is now clearly established as a matter of international law.
The plan utilizes the Uniting for Peace Resolution, which was first adopted in 1950 as a way for the UN General assembly to circumvent The Security Council, where the veto of one member (in this case, of course, the US) can stymie UN action. This resolution was successfully implemented in the Suez Crisis of 1956.
The first critical step is for one UN member state – in any region – to formally request an Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UN General Assembly. This request activates a 24-hour countdown for the General Assembly to convene and address the crisis.
Once the ESS is underway, the focus must shift to ensuring swift adoption of a comprehensive General Assembly Uniting for Peace Resolution. This resolution must authorize the deployment of a UN mandated multinational armed protective force to Gaza, to safeguard Palestinian civilians, support the UN’s unrestricted entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, preserve evidence of potential war crimes and violations of human rights, and facilitate reconstruction of Gaza.
This stage should also include accountability for Israel, including a full embargo of al arms shipments to Israel, and stripping Israel of its UN credentials.
The final phase is the commitment of the member states to enforcing the resolution: After the resolution passes, which requires a two-thirds majority, the real test begins: every nation that votes ‘yes’ must publicly state what resources they will contribute—troops, planes, ships, humanitarian aid.
Thank you! This needs to be broadcasted far and wide and immense pressure put on the countries that can enable this bypass and to happen! We are out of time!
When will we STOP letting countries kill children. Why did Israel strike back two year ago?
Because some of their people were killed! So why can't we bomb them into the ground?
Because we are HUMAN BEINGS who cry for the people who were trying to scratch out a living. DO NOT believe all the lies. Believe the pictures of the entire country bombed out, with no care of children or any human being. Why would ANYONE support a country who does that? Stop killing children, I don't care who you are. Stop killing children, That is never justified, EVER.
I don’t understand why they said it’s the legal obligation to stop the genocide but did not want a un force to go in and actually stop it. They also stated there is a lack of will on the global states to even agree on a ceasefire. I’m confused on how it’s going to be stopped??
see my comment below, I also thought that was the single most frustrating comment in this interview. There actually is precedent to bypass the Security Council, I was upset when they didn't mention it.
At this stage, I think the mechanism to bypass the Security Council should be used as there doesn't seem to be any viable alternative. The utterly ruthless slaughter of innocent people must be stopped!!
This was an interview that I hung on every word. Thank you, Mehdi for asking the hard questions and to the Commissioners for their service. I just wish the World governments would take action to save the Palestinian people.
BBC News coverage of this important finding....predictably both sideism. Extensive reporting of what Isreal says about this report and less of the actual detail of the reports findings!
Can't bring bring myself to watch them anymore. Months ago, my attempt to convince a friend and history teacher (irony noted) about their biased coverage was met with total denial (and since no further contact either which is sad). A few days later the CfMM's report confirmed that the BBC is indeed systematically biased against Palestinians. Then there was the internal protest by BBC's own staff - although a sternly worded letter sounds a very British, meek and mild form of action. I hope more and more of the British public stop paying their licence fee and switch to independent journalism.
But its a holocaust, thats where children , health workers etc, are vaporised by Americas incindiary bombs. A holocaust doesn't need a funace and chiminy . Just the incineration of bodies, in this case a lot of the murder victims are children, Its a holocaust. Recognised as such by one of the british holocaust suvivers , theres nothing more authentic than that.
Only way the satanic Zionist Jews will stop carrying out genocides everywhere is to nuke Israel and it's terrorist financier the USA. Turn them both into Gaza
We do not attack or promote aggression towards non-combatants. Nor do we wish the destruction of two nations. We hold the leader of hypocrites accountable.
I just read the NYT’s coverage of the report, which, I think, reflects the paper’s usual bias toward Israel. For example, it states that the commission’s report “said that some of the (Israeli) hostages since (October 7) had been subjected to rape and sexual torture in Gaza.” More importantly, the article failed to mention at all the “sexual violence” and humiliation of Palestinian prisoners described by Ms. Pillay in Medhi’s interview. I may have missed something in the interview, but I thought that the two commissioners, although confirming that Hamas had engaged in some sexual violence, said that allegations of rape could not be confirmed because Israel had “blocked” the U.N.’s investigation and that, specifically, the forensic evidence on which Israel relied, in part, for its claims was very poor. I think this apparent discrepancy in the NYT’s coverage needs to be investigated and reported on by other media, particularly its omission of the commission’s documentation of sexual violence committed by Israel.
I hope the U.N. and the ICC act quickly, as they don’t need any more evidence of a genocide. The world needs to step in now to stop it.
I just listened again to the interview. In it, Commissioner Sidito said that the Commission “could not establish either way whether there had been rape” of Israeli hostages by Hamas. This appears to directly contradict the NYT’s statement in today’s article on the Commission’s report that “the report said that some of the hostages had been subjected to rape and sexual torture in Gaza.”
The NYT’s touts itself as “the paper of record” and may be the most widely read and influential paper in the world. Its coverage of Gaza needs to be thoroughly investigated and reported on elsewhere and outed far and wide. The msm has played a very large role in perpetuating the genocide. This needs to be addressed. It’s long overdue.
Excellent interview. "Gaza will be with me for the rest of my life" - I think that is how a lot of us feel. My hope is for the genocide to end and for Israel to be 100% responsible for reparations which will impoverish them as Chris said, to the point where the US can't even keep them afloat.
And now what? Will this change anything? Can and will the International community and international institutions step forward and force Israel to comply with the UN resolutions since 1967? Can they get Israeli out of the occupied territories, dismantle ALL THE ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS and get back into their borders? Can and will Israël be held accountable (financially) for all the infrastructure destruction and the lives of innocent Palestinians both Muslims and Christians? Will the war criminals be brought to the ICC? At this point in time we are dealing with reports that are no more than words. It is time for ACTS. As one man all states must speak together and their voices must become one voice.
I don't know. Right now I am not expecting the leadership in the US to stop the occupation of Gaza or other illegal settlements by Israel. More and more countries are speaking out but not doing anything.
Soon we will be having this same discussion about Venezuela if Trump continues the trajectory he has begun with bombing boats and killing their inhabitants. Where is that headed?
Let’s not compare a possible escalation between Venezuela and the USA with the genocide taking place in Gaza and the forceful displacement of Palestinians since 1947-48 and the illegal occupation of Palestinian land since 1967. The EU could decide to take every sanction in the world and even if the UK joined us in such a decision, as long as the USA subsidizes and protects Israel there will be no progress and therefore no solution. Israel feels it is granted total immunity whatever Israeli do. They have lived under the holocaust umbrella for the past 80 years but the people in the EU have opened their eyes. Most Israelis are no better than the Nazi Germans were. Even worse because they were persecuted and now they are doing it to other people. And the world knows what is happening in front of our eyes. In 2025 media spreads information widely.
Candide I am not equating, just predicting and worrying that Trump will be doing to Venezuela what Israel is doing to Palestinians. I do not see any solution for Israel coming from the US government as long as it is in Trump's hands. I know that the countries in Europe speaking out against Israel are weak tea. They are not having any effect on Netanyahu. However, global boycotts might have an effect. That is what helped to bring down Apartheid in South Africa.
Unfortunately Democrats and Republicans have both held the same policy in the Middle East. The present genocide in Gaza started when Biden was the POTUS.
yep the present but this has been going on little by little since the Nakba.
Not all Democrats. The Social Democratic part of the party has spoken out against the genocide. However one will need to elect more Social Democrats to get change in the US.
Mehdi thank you for bringing to our attention this vital Report of the Israeli Genocide against the people of Gaza.
A great interview. I don't expect to see anything so thoughtful on any "conventional" outlet.
There actually is precedent in the UN to bypass the Security Council and authorize an armed force, it's been done before.
Former senior UN human rights chief Craig Mokhiber and the organization People Against Genocide Everywhere have laid out a 3-phase plan that describes how this could work:
Because the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that Israel does not hold sovereignty in Gaza or any other part of the occupied territories. It has no right to be there and has no authority or decision-making power over what happens there. That is now clearly established as a matter of international law.
The plan utilizes the Uniting for Peace Resolution, which was first adopted in 1950 as a way for the UN General assembly to circumvent The Security Council, where the veto of one member (in this case, of course, the US) can stymie UN action. This resolution was successfully implemented in the Suez Crisis of 1956.
The first critical step is for one UN member state – in any region – to formally request an Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UN General Assembly. This request activates a 24-hour countdown for the General Assembly to convene and address the crisis.
Once the ESS is underway, the focus must shift to ensuring swift adoption of a comprehensive General Assembly Uniting for Peace Resolution. This resolution must authorize the deployment of a UN mandated multinational armed protective force to Gaza, to safeguard Palestinian civilians, support the UN’s unrestricted entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, preserve evidence of potential war crimes and violations of human rights, and facilitate reconstruction of Gaza.
This stage should also include accountability for Israel, including a full embargo of al arms shipments to Israel, and stripping Israel of its UN credentials.
The final phase is the commitment of the member states to enforcing the resolution: After the resolution passes, which requires a two-thirds majority, the real test begins: every nation that votes ‘yes’ must publicly state what resources they will contribute—troops, planes, ships, humanitarian aid.
Thank you! This needs to be broadcasted far and wide and immense pressure put on the countries that can enable this bypass and to happen! We are out of time!
When will we STOP letting countries kill children. Why did Israel strike back two year ago?
Because some of their people were killed! So why can't we bomb them into the ground?
Because we are HUMAN BEINGS who cry for the people who were trying to scratch out a living. DO NOT believe all the lies. Believe the pictures of the entire country bombed out, with no care of children or any human being. Why would ANYONE support a country who does that? Stop killing children, I don't care who you are. Stop killing children, That is never justified, EVER.
I don’t understand why they said it’s the legal obligation to stop the genocide but did not want a un force to go in and actually stop it. They also stated there is a lack of will on the global states to even agree on a ceasefire. I’m confused on how it’s going to be stopped??
see my comment below, I also thought that was the single most frustrating comment in this interview. There actually is precedent to bypass the Security Council, I was upset when they didn't mention it.
At this stage, I think the mechanism to bypass the Security Council should be used as there doesn't seem to be any viable alternative. The utterly ruthless slaughter of innocent people must be stopped!!
Will other states step in though?
This was an interview that I hung on every word. Thank you, Mehdi for asking the hard questions and to the Commissioners for their service. I just wish the World governments would take action to save the Palestinian people.
Thank you for the excellent and consistent reporting !
BBC News coverage of this important finding....predictably both sideism. Extensive reporting of what Isreal says about this report and less of the actual detail of the reports findings!
Can't bring bring myself to watch them anymore. Months ago, my attempt to convince a friend and history teacher (irony noted) about their biased coverage was met with total denial (and since no further contact either which is sad). A few days later the CfMM's report confirmed that the BBC is indeed systematically biased against Palestinians. Then there was the internal protest by BBC's own staff - although a sternly worded letter sounds a very British, meek and mild form of action. I hope more and more of the British public stop paying their licence fee and switch to independent journalism.
Would it even change anything? Would UK and US call it a genocide now? I doubt it.
Genocide yes, thats been obvious from the getgo.
But its a holocaust, thats where children , health workers etc, are vaporised by Americas incindiary bombs. A holocaust doesn't need a funace and chiminy . Just the incineration of bodies, in this case a lot of the murder victims are children, Its a holocaust. Recognised as such by one of the british holocaust suvivers , theres nothing more authentic than that.
lauriemillerjade.com
Only way the satanic Zionist Jews will stop carrying out genocides everywhere is to nuke Israel and it's terrorist financier the USA. Turn them both into Gaza
We do not attack or promote aggression towards non-combatants. Nor do we wish the destruction of two nations. We hold the leader of hypocrites accountable.
I just read the NYT’s coverage of the report, which, I think, reflects the paper’s usual bias toward Israel. For example, it states that the commission’s report “said that some of the (Israeli) hostages since (October 7) had been subjected to rape and sexual torture in Gaza.” More importantly, the article failed to mention at all the “sexual violence” and humiliation of Palestinian prisoners described by Ms. Pillay in Medhi’s interview. I may have missed something in the interview, but I thought that the two commissioners, although confirming that Hamas had engaged in some sexual violence, said that allegations of rape could not be confirmed because Israel had “blocked” the U.N.’s investigation and that, specifically, the forensic evidence on which Israel relied, in part, for its claims was very poor. I think this apparent discrepancy in the NYT’s coverage needs to be investigated and reported on by other media, particularly its omission of the commission’s documentation of sexual violence committed by Israel.
I hope the U.N. and the ICC act quickly, as they don’t need any more evidence of a genocide. The world needs to step in now to stop it.
I just listened again to the interview. In it, Commissioner Sidito said that the Commission “could not establish either way whether there had been rape” of Israeli hostages by Hamas. This appears to directly contradict the NYT’s statement in today’s article on the Commission’s report that “the report said that some of the hostages had been subjected to rape and sexual torture in Gaza.”
The NYT’s touts itself as “the paper of record” and may be the most widely read and influential paper in the world. Its coverage of Gaza needs to be thoroughly investigated and reported on elsewhere and outed far and wide. The msm has played a very large role in perpetuating the genocide. This needs to be addressed. It’s long overdue.
as Bassam Youseff said recently, the western media is the real iron dome for israel.
I hadn’t seen that. So true.
Excellent interview. "Gaza will be with me for the rest of my life" - I think that is how a lot of us feel. My hope is for the genocide to end and for Israel to be 100% responsible for reparations which will impoverish them as Chris said, to the point where the US can't even keep them afloat.
This is heartbreaking . I cannot stomach it. We are to blame as well.. Joe and Donald are to blame too! Somebody please do aomething. lost in america