The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released a report accusing Israel of using sexual violence against Palestinians since October 2023. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the UNHRC “an antisemitic, corrupt, terrorist-supporting, and irrelevant body.” Multiple Israeli officials have labeled the report as a “blood libel” and accused it of ignoring acts of sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists. US Ambassador Designate to the United Nations Elise Stefanik also condemned the report as “antisemitic and anti-Israel slander.” Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon called the report “another vile and distorted document from the UN,” criticizing the council for overlooking Hamas’ war crimes.
The report documents alleged abuses by Israeli troops, referred to as the Israel Security Forces (ISF) rather than the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It condemns Israel for carrying out disproportionate violence against women and children, as well as forced public stripping, which Israel claims is necessary for security reasons. Chair of the Commission Navi Pillay condemned the increase in sexual and gender-based violence and accused Israel of using sexual violence to terrorize Palestinians and undermine their right to self-determination. Anne Bayefsky, Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights, criticized the commission for ignoring submissions that challenged their conclusions and refusing to hear testimony from NGOs that contradicted their findings.
UNWatch Executive Director Hillel Neuer described the UN inquiry as “objective as a Stalinist show trial” and accused them of falsely accusing Israel of crimes actually committed by Hamas. The commission claims that sexual violence, including rape, is part of the IDF’s standard operating procedures towards Palestinians. The report also alleges that Israel’s process of strip-searching detainees is not up to international standards. Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that the Independent International Commission of Inquiry is an independent body mandated by the Human Rights Council, and that the secretary-general has repeatedly called for accountability in the conflict. Despite the backlash, the UNHRC stands by its report and continues to face criticism for its findings.
The report’s accusations have sparked intense backlash from Israel, with officials denouncing it as a blood libel and accusing the UNHRC of bias against Israel. Despite condemning Hamas’ war crimes, the council focused primarily on allegations against Israel. US Ambassador Designate to the United Nations Elise Stefanik criticized the report as “antisemitic and anti-Israel slander,” while Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon called it “vile and distorted.” The UN has faced criticism for its handling of the conflict, with accusations of ignoring Hamas’ atrocities and focusing on baseless accusations against Israel.
Critics of the report, including Anne Bayefsky and Hillel Neuer, have alleged that the UN inquiry is biased and has twisted facts to falsely accuse Israel of crimes committed by Hamas. The commission’s claims about sexual violence being part of the IDF’s standard operating procedures have been met with skepticism, particularly in light of Israel’s security concerns. Despite the controversy, the UNHRC continues to defend its report and accuses Israel of employing sexual violence against Palestinians as a means of terrorizing them. The issue remains a point of contention between Israel and the UN, with both sides standing firm in their positions.
