A United Nations-backed human rights group said on Monday that the Israeli military has committed systematic sexual, reproductive and other gender-based abuses of Palestinians during the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Sexual corruption was used by Israel’s security forces against Palestinian prisoners, say the findings issued by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, on Thursday, (March 13, 2025). Israel denies this allegation.
The Commission also stated that Israel’s military operations – including heavy bombing in residential areas, plus strikes on, and then blockaded, healthcare facilities – had disproportionately hit women and children. Chris Sidoti, commissioner of the Commission said Israel’s actions constitute “genocidal acts by way of the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive health care facilities.”
However, the comments were angrily rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who branded the UN Human Rights Council an ‘anti-Israel circus’, as well as ‘anti-Semitic’ and ‘terrorist – supporting’. Israel missions in Geneva rejected the findings, claiming that the commission based itself on unverifiable sources and was suffering from longstanding anti-Israel bias. 
The Commission’s report may validate future cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Arrest warrants have already been sought for Netanyahu and Israel’s former Defense Minister, accused of war crimes—denies they make. In contrast, Hamas has invited international courts to judge Israeli leaders.
The Gaza conflict sparked by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 , attack into southern Israel has produced over 48,000 Palestinian entities, the Gaza Health Ministry reported.
