The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel has released a document accusing Israeli authorities of numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
The alleged crimes attributed to Israeli authorities include "war crimes involving starvation as a method of warfare, willful killing, intentional attacks on civilians and civilian objects, forcible transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention, and outrages upon personal dignity."
According to the probe, military actions in Gaza were carried out under a strategy designed to cause maximum harm, disregarding principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
The report highlights that Israeli authorities not only failed to cooperate with the commission but also obstructed the investigation by denying UN personnel access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The commission's report states that specific forms of sexual and gender-based violence are part of the operational procedures of Israeli security forces. This conclusion is drawn from the frequency, prevalence, and severity of violations, including public stripping and nudity aimed at humiliating the community and reinforcing the subjugation of the occupied people.
The same commission has found Palestinian armed groups responsible for war crimes committed in Israel. Responsibility is attributed to Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and five other groups.
The UN announced that the report will be presented on June 19 at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
