UN investigation proof of 'Israel's' horrific crimes in Gaza: Hamas
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Hamas responds to a UN inquiry that has ruled that Israeli occupation forces, through the systematic destruction of women's health facilities and testimonies from Gaza, committed genocidal acts.
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A Palestinian woman mourns her relative, 7-month old baby Hani Qeshta, who was killed in an Israeli bombardment, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, May 5, 2024 (AP)
The Islamic Resistance Movement in Palestine – Hamas – stated that the UN commission of inquiry’s report confirms "the horrific crimes that the occupation government continues to commit."
The movement added that "the report’s reference to the international community’s disregard and denial of crimes against our people necessitates a serious international response."
In a statement on Thursday, Hamas called on the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and all judicial bodies to take serious action regarding the findings of the UN report. It also urged the international community to "hold the Zionist regime accountable, stop its crimes, and enforce the terms of the ceasefire agreement."
UN experts accuse 'Israel' of genocide, sexual violence in Gaza
This comes after a United Nations investigation found that "Israel" carried out genocidal acts against Palestinians by systematically destroying women's healthcare facilities throughout the 15-month war on the Gaza Strip, and used sexual violence in Gaza as a war strategy.
The UN Commission of Inquiry reported that "Israel intentionally attacked and destroyed" Gaza's primary fertility center while simultaneously imposing a siege that blocked humanitarian aid, including medication crucial for safe pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal care.
"Israel" has alleged that the reports are “unfounded", but the commission found that "Israel's" actions had severely impacted the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza. The commission outlined two categories of genocidal acts: "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction" and "imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group."
The commission’s chair, Navi Pillay, stated that these violations caused "severe immediate physical and mental harm and suffering to women and girls," with "irreversible long-term effects on the mental health and reproductive and fertility prospects of Palestinians."
The report also detailed the destruction of the Al-Basma IVF Centre, Gaza's main in-vitro fertility clinic, in December 2023. The attack reportedly destroyed around 4,000 embryos, and the commission found no credible evidence suggesting that the clinic had any military purpose. It concluded that the attack was aimed at preventing births among Palestinians, constituting a genocidal act.
The commission further noted that the broader impact on pregnant, lactating, and new mothers was unprecedented, with irreversible consequences for the reproductive future of Gaza’s population. These acts were described as crimes against humanity, with the commission concluding that "Israel's" actions were an attempt to destroy the Palestinian group as a whole.
Following public hearings in Geneva, the commission also reported that "Israel" had directly targeted Palestinian women and girls with acts of sexual violence, including forced stripping, sexual harassment, and assault. Women and girls have died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth due to the blockade, and the commission categorized these acts as crimes against humanity and the war crime of willful killing.
Read more: Hamas says approaching new round of Gaza ceasefire talks positively
