A scathing new UN report accuses Israel of committing “genocidal acts” and systematic sexual violence against Palestinians during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza and the West Bank. The allegations were made by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry—a UN-appointed body tasked with investigating human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Alarming Allegations: War Crimes and Sexual Violence
The commission said it uncovered “a significant increase in sexual and gender-based violence,” including forced nudity, sexual assault, and rape, allegedly carried out by Israeli forces. It claims this abuse is no longer isolated but appears to be systematic.
“Sexual violence is now so widespread that it can only be considered systematic,” said commission member Chris Sidoti.
The report alleges that some of the acts were conducted under direct or implicit orders from Israeli leadership, though it does not cite specific commands.
Targeting Reproductive Health: Genocidal Implications
The report goes further to suggest that Israeli forces intentionally destroyed maternity hospitals and Gaza’s main fertility clinic, al-Basma IVF Centre, which housed over 4,000 embryos and reproductive samples. The destruction, experts say, may amount to acts of genocide, specifically through measures aimed at preventing births within a targeted group—one of the legal definitions under the Genocide Convention.
“The destruction of reproductive services was deliberate,” Sidoti added. “The consequence of this is the prevention of births.”
Israel’s Response: “Baseless, Antisemitic, and Outrageous”
The Israeli government categorically rejected the allegations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the UN Human Rights Council an “antisemitic, terrorist-supporting circus”, and said the report ignored Hamas’s atrocities during the 7 October 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken.
Israel insists the IDF has strict protocols prohibiting sexual violence and said the report relied on unverified, second-hand sources.
A Complex Legal Battle
While the report finds “reasonable grounds to conclude” that these crimes were committed, it does not carry the legal weight of a court ruling. Establishing criminal liability for genocide would require proof beyond reasonable doubt in an international court.
The International Court of Justice is currently hearing a separate genocide case against Israel, brought by South Africa. Israel strongly denies any genocidal intent.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Since the war began, over 48,520 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The UN warns that Gaza’s infrastructure is near collapse, with severe shortages of food, water, fuel, medicine, and shelter amid widespread displacement.
