A UN commission of inquiry has accused Israel of carrying out a “concerted policy to destroy Gaza’s health system” during its ongoing war with Hamas.
The commission said Israel’s attacks on medical facilities in the Gaza Strip and its treatment of Palestinian detainees amounted to war crimes and the crime against humanity of “extermination.”
Hamas and other Palestinian groups have also been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their treatment of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Israel has not yet commented, but has long accused the United Nations of bias and dismissed previous critical reports.
The report, due to be submitted to the UN General Assembly on October 30, was led by South Africa’s former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.
The report said Israeli security forces “deliberately kill, detain and torture health workers” and that children “bear the brunt” of a “collapsed health system”.
The commission cited the case of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was hit by a car while trying to escape the bombing with his family. Although several members of his family were killed, Hind managed to call the Palestinian Red Crescent Society for help. The ambulance trying to rescue her was also hit by shelling, killing Hind, her family, and all the paramedics.
The commission said attacks on the health system had “adversely affected living conditions, resulting in the destruction of generations of Palestinian children and potentially of the Palestinian people as a collective.” ” states.
The report said Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, subjected Israeli hostages to “physical violence, abuse, sexual violence, forced isolation, limited access to sanitation, water and food, intimidation and humiliation.” claims.
We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages.
The report also expressed concern about the treatment of thousands of Palestinian detainees, including children.
The report said Israeli security forces subjected them to systematic abuse, including torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence.
It directly named Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and said the abuses took place “under his direct orders.”
The report contains detailed evidence that adds to growing concerns reflected in International Court of Justice proceedings and International Criminal Court investigations into the growing war-making in the Middle East.
The war began on October 7, 2023, with an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
More than 42,060 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-controlled region’s health ministry.
