United Nations-supported human rights experts have raised serious allegations against Israel, accusing it of the systematic use of sexual, reproductive, and other forms of gender-based violence in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. These allegations were outlined in a detailed report, which marks one of the most comprehensive examinations of such issues since the conflict intensified following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
In response to the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Human Rights Council, the U.N.-backed entity that initiated the investigation, dismissing it as an “anti-Israel circus.” However, his remarks skirted around the specific findings. The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory compiled the report, concentrating on amassing allegations and evidence to potentially support legal action in the International Criminal Court or other legal arenas, aiming at ensuring accountability.
The report, unveiled on Thursday, scrutinizes the widespread destruction in Gaza, Israel’s use of heavy explosives in densely populated civilian areas, and attacks on medical facilities. The Commission alleged that these actions amounted to disproportionate violence primarily targeting women and children.
There are accusations of various abuses by Israeli security forces, including acts of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, which Israel denies, asserting that it acts against violations when identified. Commission member Chris Sidoti highlighted the report’s finding that Israel has increasingly used sexual and reproductive violence as a means to compromise Palestinians’ pursuit of self-determination.
The Israeli mission in Geneva dismissed these accusations, criticizing the report’s reliance on what it describes as “second-hand, single, uncorroborated sources.” Since the commission’s establishment in 2021, Israel has consistently refused to cooperate, accusing it and the council of bias.
Sidoti further elaborated that the commission has identified acts verging on genocidal through the destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare infrastructure, though it stopped short of labeling any actions as genocide, a point on which Israel strongly defends itself.
Israel contends that it implemented extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties throughout the 15-month-long conflict, which is presently paused by a tenuous ceasefire. It lays blame on Hamas for civilian deaths, citing the group’s operations within residential settings. Israeli forces have also raided medical facilities, asserting Hamas used them for military purposes—a claim refuted by Palestinian health officials.
The conflict initially escalated following a series of attacks by Hamas-led militants in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians. Israel has also accused Hamas of conducting widespread sexual violence during these events.
The war’s aftermath has been severe; according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli military actions have resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly of women and children. Led by the commission, public hearings earlier in the week included testimonies from victims, legal professionals, and advocacy groups.
While the current report by the commission did not address violence against Israelis, similar themes emerged in a report the previous year, covering abuses against Israeli civilians and hostages.
