Elham Asaad Buaras
A report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel has laid bare the harrowing extent of gender-based violence inflicted upon Palestinian women and girls by Israeli authorities.
The findings, published on March 13, highlight systemic sexual, reproductive, and other gender-based violence, particularly in Gaza, since October 2023.
The report details the deliberate destruction of women’s healthcare and reproductive health facilities, coupled with Israel’s obstruction of essential medical aid, as part of what the Commission describes as “genocidal acts.” These actions have left Palestinian women facing devastating conditions, exacerbated by the ongoing siege and blockade of humanitarian aid.
Lauren Aarons, Amnesty’s Senior Adviser on Gender, Conflict, and International Justice, said, “These damning findings are another clear illustration of the devastating impact of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its use of gender-based violence to oppress Palestinian women and girls across the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” Aarons stated.
She further highlighted testimonies from Palestinians released from Israeli detention, who recounted experiences of sexual violence and torture.
The ongoing blockade has intensified the suffering of Palestinian women, particularly due to the destruction of, maternity wards, maternal care clinics, and shelters for gender-based violence survivors.
Despite a partial ceasefire, dire living conditions persist, with hundreds of thousands of women and girls confined to overcrowded tents and shelters, struggling to access clean water and basic sanitation.
“Israel’s decision to completely block entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza for the past 12 days has already exacerbated the catastrophic conditions facing women and girls,” Aarons noted, pointing out that restrictions on mobile homes and heavy machinery have left many displaced and vulnerable to further violence.
Amnesty International is urging the international community to take immediate steps to protect Palestinian women and girls and address these gendered crimes. “The publication of the report must prompt the international community to take urgent action to protect the rights of Palestinian women,” Aarons stated.
“Beyond an immediate ceasefire, it is imperative to repair hospitals, clinics, and sanitation facilities. Israel must lift its genocidal siege on the occupied Gaza Strip and restore essential services, including electricity and the work of UNRWA, which plays a vital role in mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe.”
Amnesty International’s December 2024 report had already concluded that Israeli authorities were committing genocide in Gaza, systematically targeting civilians, including tens of thousands of women and girls.
Israel has strongly rejected the UN report’s findings. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the allegations, saying, “This is a baseless blood libel by a commission that long ago became a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda. Israel is fighting a just war against genocidal terrorists, and no amount of slander will change that.”
Photo: A funeral ceremony is held in front of Nasser Hospital for the people who lost their lives, including women and children, in the Israeli army attack on the building belonging to the Al-Farra family home in Khan Yunis, Gaza on April 11, 2025.(Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/AA)
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