The Commission of Inquiry into the Occupied Palestinian Territories released a report in Geneva. The document confirms the fact of Israel's use of sexual and gender-based violence in the context of extensive measures to undermine the rights of Palestinians to self-determination. It also highlights the commission of genocide through the destruction of medical facilities providing health services in the area of reproductive health.
The report documented numerous violations directed against women, men, and children in the occupied Palestinian territories since October 7, 2023. These actions are a key element in the practice of unlawful treatment of Palestinians and constitute part of the policy of illegal occupation and domination over the inhabitants.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Navi Pillay, emphasized that the collected evidence reveals the scale of systematic violations against Palestinians. These actions represent part of a military strategy aimed at controlling and eliminating the Palestinian population.
The report also documents forms of sexual and gender-based violence, such as public exposure on social media, sexual harassment, and threats against individuals, perpetrated by Israeli security forces. It indicates the ineffectiveness of the military-legal system in Israel, leading to perpetrators remaining unaccountable.
Pillay also noted that attacks on medical facilities in the field of reproductive health, including obstetric units and reproductive clinics in the Gaza sector, contribute to serious physical and psychological consequences for women and girls. These attacks indicate long-term impact on mental health and reproductive health.
In light of this, the commission recorded an increase in mortality among women in the Gaza sector due to attacks on residential buildings with the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, which represents a violation of human rights.
