UN Report Accuses Israel of Gender-Based Violence Against Palestinians

A new report published by the United Nations on Thursday has ignited a firestorm of controversy, accusing Israeli military forces of engaging in "sexual, reproductive, and other forms of gender-based violence" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank since Hamas' attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. The report, issued by the U.N. Human Rights Council, also alleges that Israeli troops have committed "genocidal acts" in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which was sparked by the U.S. and Israeli designated terrorist group's attack on Israel.

The council's report cites what it calls the "systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities," including maternity wards and Gaza's primary in-vitro fertility clinic, as evidence of these alleged genocidal acts. This highly contested report has drawn swift and vehement denials from Israeli authorities, who have labeled the U.N. council as "anti-Semitic, rotten, terrorist-supporting, and irrelevant."

Israeli Response to the Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement released by his office, strongly refuted the report's claims, accusing the U.N. of launching another unfounded attack on Israel with false accusations, including those regarding sexual violence. He went on to call it "one of the worst cases of blood libel the world has ever seen," arguing that it blames the victims for the crimes committed against them.

Echoing Netanyahu's sentiments, Israeli Foreign Minister Oren Marmorstein took to social media to condemn the report as a baseless attempt to smear Israel. He asserted that it accuses the victims of the crimes committed against them, highlighting the severity of the accusations leveled by the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Previous U.N. Accusations Against Hamas

It is important to note that this report follows a previous U.N. expert's findings from a year ago, which accused Hamas of similar acts of sexual violence during its October 7 terrorist attack. The U.N. special envoy on sexual violence, Pramila Patten, stated that there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, had occurred at several locations during the attack. She also expressed concerns about the ongoing potential for sexual abuse of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

While Hamas vehemently denied these allegations, the previous report documented evidence suggesting that acts of sexual violence were committed by Hamas during the October 7 attack.

U.N. Inquiry Commission Findings

The current U.N. inquiry commission, chaired by Navi Pillay, claims to have gathered evidence revealing a "deplorable increase in sexual and gender-based violence" by Israeli forces. The report documents a wide range of accusations against Israel's security forces, alleging crimes against Palestinian women and girls, as well as men and boys in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

The commission alleges incidents of forced public stripping and nudity, sexual harassment, rape, and threats of rape and genital violence. It claims that these acts have become "standard operating procedures toward Palestinians" and are committed either under explicit orders or with implicit encouragement from Israel's top civilian and military leadership.

International Reactions and Implications

The report's findings, published after two days of public hearings in Geneva featuring testimony from purported victims, witnesses, medical staff, academics, and lawyers, have sparked intense international debate. The allegations of sexual and gender-based violence, coupled with the claims of genocidal acts, raise serious concerns about the conduct of the conflict and its impact on civilians.

The U.N. report is likely to further escalate tensions in the already volatile region, potentially impacting ongoing peace talks and diplomatic efforts. It also underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations and accountability for any violations of international law.