UNITED NATIONS: UN human rights experts issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the Israeli military’s violence against women and children during its extensive attacks in Gaza.
The experts described the attacks as “unacceptable” and highlighted reports of sexual violence and enforced disappearances perpetrated by Israeli forces.
Since October 7, Israel’s relentless assaults in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 34,700 people, with a disproportionate number being women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The experts expressed concern over the widespread destruction of housing and the precarious living conditions faced by Palestinians, particularly impacting women and girls’ personal security and privacy.
The statement highlighted the dire situation for pregnant and lactating women, citing the bombardment of hospitals and denial of access to healthcare facilities by Israeli snipers. It noted that more than 180 women per day were giving birth without pain relief, leading to a surge in miscarriages and deaths of babies due to the lack of electricity for incubators.
Furthermore, the destruction of Gaza’s largest fertility clinic and the deprivation of menstrual hygiene products for approximately 690,000 women and girls were cited as additional humanitarian concerns.
In response, the Israeli mission to the UN in Geneva rejected the allegations of sexual assaults and violence, dismissing them as “unsubstantiated.” The statement underscores the urgent need for accountability and action to address the human rights violations perpetrated during the conflict in Gaza.
