PRC Welcomes UN Inquiry’s Groundbreaking Report on Systematic Israeli Violence Against Palestinians

PRC Welcomes UN Inquiry’s Groundbreaking Report on Systematic Israeli Violence Against Palestinians

London– The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) welcomes with grave concern and resolute support the findings of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry, as outlined in its latest report: “More Than a Human Can Bear” (A/HRC/58/CRP.6).

The Commission’s investigation presents irrefutable evidence of Israel’s systematic and widespread use of sexual, reproductive, and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel since 7 October 2023. The report paints a devastating picture of how Israel’s military strategies have disproportionately targeted women and children, utilizing tactics including:

  • Direct attacks on maternity wards, reproductive health clinics, and fertility centres, resulting in catastrophic loss of life, destruction of embryos and reproductive material, and the collapse of essential health services.
  • Deliberate killing of women and girls by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) snipers, as verified in incidents such as the killing of pregnant women and those attempting to flee besieged areas under white flags.
  • Systematic use of sexual violence, including acts of rape, public shaming, sexual harassment, and forced nudity, particularly during arrests, ground operations, and detentions.
  • Gendered starvation and blockade tactics, disproportionately affecting pregnant and lactating women, leading to surging rates of malnutrition, miscarriages, premature births, and maternal death.
  • Displacement and the destruction of civilian homes, contributing to the erasure of family structures and leaving women and children vulnerable to further violence and exploitation.

    • In its legal analysis, the Commission concludes that many of these actions may amount to crimes against humanity, including extermination, persecution, and gender-based violence, as well as grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

    “The findings of this report lay bare the horrifying reality faced daily by Palestinians—particularly women and children—under systematic oppression, occupation, and military aggression,” said PRC. “The documented patterns of sexual violence, reproductive harm, and deliberate attacks on civilians reveal an intentional strategy to dehumanize and dominate the Palestinian people.”

    The PRC calls upon the international community to immediately:

  • Uphold and enforce the Commission’s recommendations, including full accountability for those responsible for war crimes and gender-based crimes.
  • Facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access, with special attention to restoring reproductive and healthcare services.
  • Address the structural and root causes of these violations, foremost among them the illegal occupation, blockade of Gaza, and denial of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.

    • This report underscores what Palestinians have long voiced: that the violence inflicted upon them is neither accidental nor isolated—it is systematic, intentional, and must not be met with silence.

     

    Short Link : https://prc.org.uk/en/post/4895