Statement on the Commission of Inquiry A/HRC/58/CRP.6
On the 13th of March, the United Nations published the findings of its ‘commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and Israel.’ The subject of the inquiry was on the increase in sexual violence perpetuated by the IOF and settlers since October 7th, 2023.
The inquiry found that sexual and gender-based violence is a common method of oppression and weapon of war systematically used by the IOF against Palestinians in Gaza. Male victims are routinely ordered to strip naked without justification, accompanied by verbal and physical abuse. Female victims are often violated and degraded based on their gender, and at times similarly ordered to be stripped down. Multiple incidents of sexual violence against women committed by the IOF have been confirmed. In the West Bank, the IOF have also been sexually violating Palestinian hostages in the same manner of stripping and humiliation. The IOF have also used doxing to humiliate Palestinian women, an illegal practice where photos and personal information are published without the consent of the individual.
In what have been labelled genocidal acts, the IOF have also attacked maternity and fertility centers in Gaza. One instance of ‘Israeli’ targeting of healthcare facilities was the destruction of the Al-Basma fertility clinic by IOF tank shelling. The clinic was clearly marked as a healthcare facility, and, at the time of the attack, ‘Israeli’ officials were in possession of a comprehensive list of the location of healthcare facilities in Gaza. This indicates that the attack was a deliberate assault on health infrastructure in Gaza, particularly maternity and fertility facilities. Currently only 2 out of 12 maternity wards in Gaza are able to sustain partial functions.
Since the beginning of the IOF’s campaign in Gaza, 59% of victims have been women, elderly, or children. ‘Israeli’ violence has had a devastating effect on the livelihoods/right to life of Gazan children in particular, who comprise 33% of victims. On the 16th of December 2023, IOF snipers shot and killed two Palestinian women on the premises of the Latin Patriarchate of Gaza City without prior warning, and then killed an additional five civilians that were trying to assist the two women. According to “Israel’s” prime-ministerial office, there was “no combat in the area on that day.”Indiscriminate and intentional killing of civilians has been commonplace since the onset of the IOF’s campaign of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, disproportionately impacting women and children. The multitude of well-documented incidents of civilian casualties in Gaza evidence that the IOF indiscriminately and arbitrarily target innocent non-combatants or civilians, inflicting severe suffering and depriving Palestinians of their right to life.
Upon its publication, ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the report was conducted with bias against ‘Israel’, despite their refusal to participate in the inquiry when requested to do so by the commission.
The ACHRS strongly condemns the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians carried out by the IOF that disproportionately affects women and children. In addition, ACHRS strongly condemns the systematic destruction of fertility and maternity care centers in Gaza in its ongoing genocide against Palestinian people.
