Geneva, Switzerland – Experts from the United Nations have accused Israel of committing “genocidal acts” against Palestinians by systematically targeting women’s healthcare facilities in the Gaza conflict. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including east Jerusalem, and Israel stated that Israel had intentionally destroyed women’s reproductive capacity, including imposing measures to prevent births, constituting genocidal acts under international law.

The report also highlighted a surge in maternity deaths in Gaza due to restricted access to essential medical supplies, categorizing these actions as crimes against humanity. Additionally, the Israeli security forces were accused of using forced public stripping and sexual assault as tactics to retaliate against Palestinians following attacks by Hamas in October 2023.

In response to the allegations, Israel rejected the accusations, citing concrete directives and policies within the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) that strictly prohibit such misconduct. The Israeli mission in Geneva emphasized that their review processes align with international standards.

A previous report by the Commission in June 2024 had accused Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups of serious human rights violations during the 2023 attack, including torture and degrading treatment. Israel, a party to the Genocide Convention, had been instructed by the International Court of Justice in January 2024 to take action to prevent acts of genocide during the conflict with Hamas.

Notably, Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, which grants the International Criminal Court jurisdiction over individual criminal cases involving genocide and crimes against humanity. This lack of membership in the Rome Statute has led to South Africa bringing a genocide case against Israel’s actions in Gaza before the International Court of Justice.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted after a cross-border raid by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and triggering a war in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing violence has led to a significant loss of life, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 48,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began.