UN Report: Israel Committed Acts of Genocide Through Systematic Destruction of Healthcare in Gaza

Watan-A United Nations independent commission confirmed on Thursday that Israel has committed acts of genocide against Palestinians by systematically destroying sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In its report, the commission stated:“Israel has increasingly resorted to sexual, reproductive, and gender-based violence against Palestinians.”

It further declared:“Israel committed acts of genocide through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities as part of broader efforts to undermine Palestinians’ right to self-determination.”

The report documents a wide range of violations committed against Palestinian men, women, boys, and girls across the occupied territories since October 7, 2023.

Public Hearings and Witness Testimonies

The report was released following two days of public hearings in Geneva on March 11 and 12, where the commission heard testimonies from:

• Victims and witnesses of sexual and reproductive violence
• Medical personnel who provided assistance
• Civil society representatives, academics, lawyers, and medical experts

The commission confirmed that these violations are a core element of Israel’s abuse of Palestinians and form part of the illegal occupation and systematic persecution of Palestinians as a group.

Sexual Violence as a War Strategy

The commission concluded that sexual and gender-based violence has been used increasingly and more severely as part of Israel’s war strategy to control and destroy the Palestinian people.

The report highlighted that Israeli forces routinely employ specific forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including:

• Forced public stripping
• Sexual harassment
• Threats of rape
• Sexual assault

Additionally, the commission documented other severe forms of sexual violence, including rape and genital assault, which were committed either under explicit orders or with implicit encouragement from Israel’s senior civilian and military leadership.

Culture of Impunity and Settler Violence

The commission found that Israeli settlers in the West Bank also commit sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians to instill fear and force them from their communities—all under an environment of total impunity.

UN commission chair Navi Pillay stated:“Statements and exonerating actions by Israeli leaders, coupled with the ineffectiveness of the military judicial system in prosecuting and convicting offenders, send a clear message to Israeli security forces: they can continue committing these crimes without fear of accountability.”

The commission emphasized the necessity of accountability through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and national courts that apply universal jurisdiction to uphold the rule of law and justice for victims.

Systematic Destruction of Reproductive Healthcare

The UN commission reported that Israeli forces have deliberately and systematically destroyed sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities across Gaza.

Furthermore, Israel has:

• Imposed a blockade while preventing humanitarian aid
• Blocked essential medical supplies, including medications and equipment necessary for safe pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal care

These actions, the commission stated, violate the reproductive rights of Palestinian women and girls, undermining their:

• Right to life and health
• Right to bodily autonomy
• Right to family planning
• Right to dignity and physical/mental well-being
• Right to self-determination and non-discrimination

The report also noted that Palestinian women and girls have died from pregnancy and childbirth complications due to Israeli-imposed conditions that denied them access to reproductive healthcare.

“These actions amount to crimes against humanity, specifically genocide,” the commission concluded.