A United Nations investigative committee has accused Israel of pursuing a “coordinated policy to destroy Gaza’s healthcare system” during its ongoing war with Hamas.
The commission said that Israeli attacks on Gaza’s health care facilities and Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners amounted to war crimes, as well as the crime against humanity of “extermination.”
Hamas and other Palestinian groups are also 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 UN of bias and dismissed previous critical reports.
The report, which will be presented to the UN General Assembly on October 30, was led by Navi Pillay, the former South African UN human rights chief.
Israeli security forces have “intentionally killed, detained and tortured medical personnel,” the report said, while children “have borne the brunt” of “the collapse of the health care system.”
The committee cites the case of five-year-old Hind Rajab, whose car was hit as she and her family tried to flee bombings. Several family members were killed, but Hind managed to call the Palestinian Red Crescent for help. The ambulance trying to reach her was also shot at and Hind, her family and the ambulance crew all died.
The commission says the attacks on the health care system have created “living conditions that have led to the destruction of generations of Palestinian children and possibly the Palestinian people as a group.”
The report alleges that Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, subjected Israeli hostages to “physical violence, abuse, sexual violence, forced isolation, limited access to hygiene facilities, water and food, threats and humiliation.”
It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages.
The report also raises concerns about the treatment of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including children.
Israeli security forces subjected them to systematic abuse, including torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, the reports allege.
It directly names Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and says the abuse took place “under direct orders” from him.
The report contains detailed evidence and adds to growing concerns, reflected in a case at the International Court of Justice and investigations by the International Criminal Court, about the course of the widening war in the Middle East.
The war began after Hamas’ unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
More than 42,060 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
