A newly released United Nations report has ignited international condemnation after concluding that Israel’s attacks on reproductive health facilities in Gaza amount to acts of genocide.
The report, issued by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, details systematic targeting of maternity wards, reproductive health centers, and an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic, significantly impairing Palestinians’ ability to reproduce.
The report also alleges widespread sexual Violence by Israeli security forces against Palestinian detainees, including forced stripping, sexual harassment, rape, and sexualized torture. Investigators assert that these actions, carried out with tacit or explicit approval from Israeli leadership, constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The findings have triggered global calls for accountability, with human rights organizations and foreign governments urging action.
Several nations have weighed in, with the European Union expressing deep concern and urging an independent review of the allegations. Meanwhile, South Africa and Malaysia have called for economic sanctions and legal action against Israeli officials implicated in the abuses.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the report, calling it “a politically motivated attack” and accusing the UN of bias and antisemitism.
The Israeli army have also denied the accusations, maintaining that “Israeli forces' operations adhere to international law and any misconduct is strictly prohibited”.
The United States and the United Kingdom, key Israeli allies, have not yet issued formal statements but are reportedly reviewing the findings. Some lawmakers in Washington have criticized the report, calling it “one-sided”, while others have pushed for a congressional inquiry into the allegations.
The UN commission has urged immediate international intervention, warning that failure to act could lead to further atrocities.
The report emphasizes the need for criminal prosecutions and reparations for victims, as well as the protection of Palestinian civilians from ongoing attacks.
As tensions mount, the findings have intensified debates over Israel’s military conduct in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, increasing pressure on the International Criminal Court to take legal action.
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