UN Commission Accuses Israel of Genocidal Acts, Systematic Violence Against Palestinian Women, Healthcare

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has accused Israel of committing genocidal acts by systematically destroying sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities in Gaza and employing gender-based violence against Palestinians since October 2023, Anadolu Agency reported.

The report highlights a significant rise in sexual violence, describing it as a strategic tool used by Israel to oppress Palestinians and undermine their right to self-determination. Chair Navi Pillay stated that abuses, including forced public stripping and sexual assault, are part of Israeli security forces’ standard procedures.

Key findings indicate that Israeli forces have targeted maternity wards and Gaza’s only in-vitro fertility clinic, preventing access to essential reproductive healthcare, which constitutes crimes against humanity. The report also notes an increase in female fatalities due to military actions in densely populated areas.

The commission called for accountability through international courts, while the Israeli mission in Geneva dismissed the findings as unfounded allegations.