In a recent development, a team of United Nations-supported human rights experts have levied serious accusations against Israel regarding its conduct in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to these experts, Israel has been systematically employing sexual, reproductive, and other forms of gender-based violence as tactics in this conflict.
These allegations were presented in a detailed report, marking one of the most intensive investigations on the issue following the attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which set off the current hostilities. The report accuses Israel of using potentially prosecutable violent actions against Gaza’s population, which could be brought before the International Criminal Court or other legal jurisdictions to ensure justice and accountability.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized the Human Rights Council, the body responsible for commissioning this group of independent experts, dismissing it as biased and unfairly against Israel. His rebuke, however, did not specifically counter the report’s findings.
The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, responsible for this comprehensive report, closely examined Israel’s military actions, such as the widespread destruction within Gaza, utilization of heavy weaponry in civilian zones, and attacks on medical facilities. The report suggests that these actions resulted in “disproportionate violence against women and children.” Furthermore, the commission detailed various violations against both male and female Palestinians, including accusations of sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian prisoners, which the Israeli government categorically denies.
Chris Sidoti, a member of the commission, expressed during a press conference that the violence against Palestinians, especially gender-based, has intensified as part of a larger goal to undermine their self-determination. In response, Israel’s representation in Geneva dismissed these claims, criticizing the commission’s reliance on what it described as unreliable and unverified sources. Israel has consistently refused cooperation with the commission, citing perceived biases.
The commission’s dossier also alluded to genocidal acts by Israel, particularly through the systematic targeting of sexual and reproductive healthcare amenities, although it stopped short of labeling these actions as genocide. These assertions have been met with staunch denials from Israel, which is sensitive to genocide claims due to its historical context post-Holocaust.
Israel maintains that it took extensive care to avoid civilian casualties during the 15-month period of conflict, attributing civilian harm to Hamas’s operational tactics of embedding within residential areas. Israeli military actions included hospital raids, claiming Hamas’s use of these facilities for military activities, allegations that Palestinian health officials refute.
The conflict was ignited by a Hamas-led offensive on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages. Israeli sources have accused the attackers of committing widespread sexual violence during their assault, underscored by testimonies of former hostages receiving medical treatment in Israel, who reportedly endured physical and sexual abuse.
The commission also recently organized hearings involving victims, lawyers, and advocacy groups to incorporate diverse accounts into their report. However, their current investigations are not focused on scrutinizing acts of violence perpetrated against Israelis or prisoners held in Gaza during the October 7 attack, issues that were addressed in earlier discussions by the commission.
Meanwhile, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian fatalities, with the Gazan Health Ministry reporting the majority as women and children, without specifying the combatant status among the deceased.
