Report: Israel Conducts Systematic Sexual Violence and War Crimes in Gaza

A recent United Nations investigation has uncovered systematic sexual violence and other war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in Gaza. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory presented these findings to the UN Human Rights Council, describing rape, sexualized torture, forced public stripping, and the deliberate targeting of women’s healthcare facilities. These acts, according to the UN, may amount to crimes against humanity and genocide.

Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War

The UN report finds that Israeli security forces have weaponized sexual violence as part of their broader strategy in the occupied Palestinian territories. Women, children, and detainees have been subjected to forced nudity, sexual threats, and rape, often in public settings to maximize humiliation and psychological impact.

Eyewitness accounts and video evidence suggest that this pattern of abuse is not isolated but rather part of an institutionalized practice. Survivors describe being assaulted at checkpoints, during home raids, and in detention centers. The UN investigators conclude that such actions serve the dual purpose of instilling fear in Palestinian communities and systematically dehumanizing the population.

Genocidal Targeting of Women’s Healthcare

A particularly damning aspect of the report highlights Israeli attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system, particularly facilities providing maternal and reproductive care.

• Maternity wards and clinics, including an IVF center, have been bombed or shut down, leaving pregnant women without critical medical assistance.
• Restrictions on medical supplies, including emergency contraception and prenatal care essentials, have led to a spike in maternal and infant mortality.
• UN experts argue that such targeted actions align with genocidal intent, as defined under international law, by systematically impairing the reproductive capacity of the Palestinian people.

War Crimes and International Legal Action

The report directly implicates Israeli political and military leadership, stating that these crimes were either explicitly ordered or allowed to persist through a culture of impunity.

“The deliberate use of sexual violence and reproductive oppression as war tactics is a violation of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute,” the UN commission declared. It calls for immediate international accountability, including potential prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Israeli Government Denies Allegations

Israeli officials have dismissed the UN report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the findings. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently entangled in significant legal challenges, both internationally and domestically.​

International Criminal Court (ICC) Proceedings

On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The charges include the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity, such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, allegedly committed during the Gaza conflict. ​

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I found reasonable grounds to believe that from October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024, Netanyahu and Gallant bore criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators for these acts. The court also noted their responsibility as civilian superiors for intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations. ​n

Israel, which is not a signatory to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, has rejected the court’s jurisdiction and dismissed the allegations. Despite this, the arrest warrants obligate the 125 ICC member states to detain Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter their territories.

Domestic Legal Proceedings

Domestically, Netanyahu is undergoing a high-profile corruption trial involving three separate cases:​

• Case 1000: Allegations of fraud and breach of trust related to receiving gifts, such as cigars and champagne, from wealthy individuals in exchange for favors. ​
• Case 2000: Accusations of negotiating favorable media coverage with a major Israeli newspaper publisher in return for limiting the circulation of a rival newspaper.
• Case 4000: Charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, alleging that Netanyahu advanced regulatory decisions benefiting the Bezeq telecommunications company in exchange for positive coverage from its news site, Walla. ​

Global Outrage and Calls for Sanctions

Human rights organizations and political leaders worldwide have expressed shock and outrage at the UN’s findings. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for targeted sanctions against Israeli military officials.

The report also adds to growing international legal scrutiny against Israel, following a separate ICJ (International Court of Justice) case accusing the state of genocide in Gaza. With these latest allegations, calls for an arms embargo and diplomatic measures against Israel are expected to intensify.

What Happens Next?

The UN has urged member states to take decisive action to hold Israel accountable, including:

• An immediate ceasefire to prevent further atrocities.
• Independent war crimes investigations through the ICC.
• Sanctions on Israeli officials and military personnel involved in crimes.
• Stronger protections for Palestinian civilians, including international peacekeeping efforts.

Despite these recommendations, geopolitical divisions within the UN Security Council—particularly U.S. support for Israel—may delay meaningful action.

As Truthlytics continues to investigate the full extent of these allegations, the question remains: Will the world allow these crimes to go unpunished?