I. Introduction, methodology and legal framework

  1. In this report, the Commission sets out its findings regarding the drivers of Israeli and
    Palestinian state violence, in particular killings and bodily and mental harm, including sexual
    and gender-based violence. As part of a broader investigation into the root causes of recurrent
    tensions, instability and protraction of conflict, this report also reviews policies and practices,
    examining drivers of violence.
  2. The Commission applied the same methodology and standard of proof previously
    adopted for its investigations and collected and preserved information from a variety of
    sources, in accordance with its standard methodology of evidence preservation.1
    The report
    should be read in conjunction with the Commission’s previous reports and conference room
    papers.2
  3. The Commission issued a call for submissions on 30 September 2025 soliciting
    information concerning killing and causing serious bodily or mental harm committed by any
    state or non-state actor since 7 October 2023. As part of its mandate to look into underlying
    root causes, the Commission also asked for information relating to incidents from the periods
    1948-1949, the 1950s, and the years 2000-2005. The Commission proposes to separately deal
    with this in its reports to be hereafter submitted.
  4. The Commission has sent two requests for information to the Government of Israel,
    and two requests for information to the State of Palestine. The Commission received a
    response from Palestine but has not received any response from Israel.
  5. The Commission relied on the legal framework adopted throughout its work and
    reflected in its terms of reference. The Commission is guided by the 2024 Opinion of the
    International Court of Justice on, inter alia, the effects of Israel’s policies and practices on
    the exercise of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
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