Are sexual violence and forced stripping used as war strategies by Israel?

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UN Experts Allege Israel Used Sexual Violence and Forced Stripping as War Strategies

United Nations experts have stated in a report that Israel has committed “genocidal acts” against Palestinians, which include the systematic destruction of women's healthcare facilities and the use of sexual violence as a war strategy. These allegations are part of a broader accusation that Israeli authorities have partially destroyed the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza and that these actions, coupled with increased maternity deaths due to restricted medical supplies, constitute the crime against humanity of extermination. The report further accuses Israeli security forces of employing forced public stripping and sexual assault as standard operating procedures to punish Palestinians following the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks.
Accusations of Genocidal Acts and Extermination

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory detailed in its report that Israeli authorities have, in part, destroyed the reproductive capacity of the Palestinian population in Gaza. This was allegedly achieved through measures intended to prevent births, which the commission categorizes as genocidal acts under the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention. The report posits that these actions, in conjunction with a rise in maternal deaths caused by limited access to essential medical supplies, amount to the crime against humanity of extermination.
Allegations of Sexual Violence and Forced Stripping

Furthermore, the commission's report specifically accuses Israel's security forces of utilising forced public stripping and sexual assault. These acts are described as being part of their standard operating procedures, employed with the intent to punish Palestinians in the aftermath of the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023. This detailed accusation points to a deliberate strategy involving severe human rights violations.
Israel's Rejection of Claims

Israel has strongly refuted these allegations. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have stated that clear directives and policies are in place that unequivocally prohibit any such misconduct. The IDF maintains that its review processes are conducted in accordance with international standards, asserting that the accusations are unfounded and that the United Nations is unfairly targeting the state of Israel with false claims.
Broader Context of Rights Violations Reports

This latest report follows previous findings by the Commission. A prior report in June 2024 had accused Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups of serious rights violations during the October 7, 2023 attack. Additionally, in March of the preceding year, UN experts had indicated that there were reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence, including rape, had occurred during the militant group’s assault. Israel is a signatory to the Genocide Convention and was previously ordered by the International Court of Justice in January 2024 to take measures to prevent acts of genocide amidst the conflict with Hamas.

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Are sexual violence and forced stripping used as war strategies by Israel?

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