UN Experts Accuse Israel of Genocidal Acts and Sexual Violence in Gaza

UN Report Claims Israeli Military Targeted Women’s Healthcare and Used Sexual Violence as War Strategy

GENEVA, March 13 (Reuters) – In a new report, United Nations experts have accused Israel of committing “genocidal acts” during its conflict in Gaza, including the systematic destruction of women’s healthcare facilities and the use of sexual violence as part of its military strategy. The report claims that Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly in targeting reproductive health services, have contributed to a broader campaign to harm the Palestinian population.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has strongly rejected the report’s findings, calling them biased and antisemitic. Notably, Israel withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council in February, signaling its displeasure with international scrutiny.

The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which includes East Jerusalem, stated that Israel’s actions have “destroyed in part the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza” and imposed measures aimed at preventing births. These actions are categorized as genocidal under both the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention, according to the commission.

The report also highlights the increased rates of maternal deaths due to restricted access to medical supplies, further emphasizing the “crime against humanity of extermination.”

Furthermore, the report accuses Israeli security forces of using sexual violence, including forced public stripping and assault, as part of their tactics to punish Palestinians following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023. One of the testimonies presented during the hearings in Geneva came from a Gaza nurse identified as Said, who described being kidnapped by Israeli forces, forced to strip publicly, and beaten in his genitals.

Chris Sidoti, a member of the commission, described this abuse as both physical and psychological, aimed at humiliating the victims.

Israel Denies Allegations

Israel has vehemently denied these accusations, with its permanent mission to the UN in Geneva stating that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have clear policies in place prohibiting such misconduct. The Israeli government insists that its review processes are in line with international standards.

A previous report from the commission, published in June 2024, had already accused Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups of serious rights violations in the October 7, 2023, attacks. In a related report, UN experts found “reasonable grounds to believe” that sexual violence, including rape, occurred in various locations during the assault by Hamas militants.

Israel is a signatory to the Genocide Convention and was ordered by the International Court of Justice in January 2024 to take measures to prevent acts of genocide during the ongoing war with Hamas. However, Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, which grants the International Criminal Court jurisdiction over cases involving genocide and crimes against humanity.