Israel denies UN allegations of using sexual violence as a tactic in Gaza war

Geneva: A United Nations-backed team of human rights experts on Thursday accused Israel of "the systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other gender-based violence" in its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The allegations were presented in one of the most detailed reports on the issue since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which triggered the ongoing conflict.

Netanyahu rejects UN report findings

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the findings, criticising the Human Rights Council, which commissioned the independent investigation. He described the council as an "anti-Israel circus" that "has long been exposed as an antisemitic, rotten, terrorist-supporting, and irrelevant body." However, his statement did not address the report’s specific allegations.

Potential for international criminal proceedings

The report was compiled by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which aims to document crimes and evidence to support accountability for perpetrators. The findings could be used by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court or other legal bodies to seek justice for victims.

The commission examined the large-scale destruction of Gaza, the use of heavy explosives in civilian areas, and Israeli attacks on hospitals and health facilities, stating that these actions resulted in "disproportionate violence against women and children."

Allegations of sexual violence and Israeli response

According to the commission, Israeli security forces were accused of committing rape and sexual violence against Palestinian detainees. Israel denies systematic abuse of prisoners and insists that it takes action against violations when they occur.

"Our report finds that Israel has increasingly employed sexual, reproductive, and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians as part of a broader effort to undermine their right to self-determination," said commission member Chris Sidoti at a press conference in Geneva.

Israel's mission in Geneva rejected the accusations, claiming that the commission relied on "second-hand, single, uncorroborated sources." Israel has refused to cooperate with the commission since its establishment in 2021, citing bias in the investigative team and the council.

Charges of genocidal acts

Sidoti further stated, "The report also concludes that Israel has carried out genocidal acts through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities." However, the commission stopped short of formally accusing Israel of genocide. Israel has vehemently denied such allegations, highlighting its origins in the wake of the Holocaust and its role as a refuge for survivors and their families.

Israel defends its military strategy

Israel maintains that it has taken extraordinary precautions to avoid civilian casualties in the war, which has been temporarily halted by a fragile ceasefire. It blames Hamas for civilian deaths, arguing that militants operate within residential areas. Israeli forces have raided several hospitals, accusing Hamas of using them for military purposes—claims denied by Palestinian health officials.

Following the report, Hamas called on international courts to prosecute Israeli leaders. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister over alleged war crimes, which they deny. The court also issued a warrant in November for Hamas’ military leader, who has since been confirmed dead.

Hamas attack and Israeli response

The war erupted when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages.

Israeli authorities, citing eyewitness accounts, have accused Hamas of widespread rape and sexual violence during the attack. Israeli medical experts treating released hostages have also reported instances of physical and sexual abuse in captivity. A UN envoy last year stated that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe such crimes had occurred.

Heavy toll on Palestinians

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which states that most of the dead are women and children. The ministry does not specify how many of the casualties were combatants.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the commission held public hearings featuring victims, lawyers, advocacy groups, and others whose testimonies contributed to the report. However, the commission did not focus on allegations of violence against Israelis during the October 7 attack or against hostages in Gaza, as it had already reported on those issues last year.

AP