US, 'Israel' move to sanction UNHRC over report on Israeli war crimes
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The move to sanction the United Nations comes amid unprecedented support by the US for "Israel" under Trump, who branded himself as the most pro-"Israel" US president ever.
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President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)
The United States and "Israel" are working on sanctioning the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) over its reports showing evidence of Israeli crimes in Gaza.
The UN rights body, in its latest investigation, documented Israeli forces' systematic use of rape and sexual violence against Palestinians—including women, men, and children—acts that the report classified as genocide, prompting the US and the Israeli regime to paint the findings of the report as "false", "distorted", and "antisemitic".
Israeli and American representatives at the UN are actively working to advance legislation aimed at imposing economic sanctions and travel bans on UNHRC officials to expand existing US sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to include the UNHRC as well.
"Israel's" Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon and upcoming US ambassador to the UN Alice Stapnick are spearheading the sanction efforts, while Israeli officials have affirmed they are pressuring the United States to take action against the international body, including preventing key UNHRC officials from entering the US and freezing their assets.
UN accuses 'Israel' of genocide, sexual violence
The United Nations report, published on March 13, stressed that "Israel" deliberately targeted and destroyed critical sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities, which are essential for safe pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal care, while further accusing Israeli forces of using sexual violence as a war strategy, including forced stripping, sexual harassment, and rape, contributing to severe and long-lasting trauma for Palestinian women and young girls.
The UN Commission of Inquiry reported that while imposing a siege that restricted humanitarian aid, including essential medication for safe pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal care, Israel deliberately targeted and destroyed Gaza's primary fertility center.
The commission’s chair, Navi Pillay, stated that as these violations inflicted severe and immediate physical and mental harm and suffering on women and girls, they also led to irreversible long-term consequences for the mental health, reproductive well-being, and fertility prospects of Palestinians.
The report also documented the December 2023 destruction of the Al-Basma IVF Centre, Gaza’s primary in-vitro fertility clinic, where approximately 4,000 embryos were reportedly wiped out, while the commission found no credible evidence indicating any military use of the facility and determined that the attack was intended to prevent Palestinian births, classifying it as a genocidal act.
After holding public hearings in Geneva, the commission reported that while directly targeting Palestinian women and girls with acts of sexual violence—including forced stripping, sexual harassment, and assault—Israel’s blockade also led to deaths from pregnancy and childbirth complications, with the commission classifying these acts as crimes against humanity and the war crime of willful killing.
