Israel is strongly criticizing the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) following a report accusing the country of using sexual violence against Palestinians since October 2023. The report, titled “’More than a human can bear’: Israel’s systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since October 2023,” levels serious accusations against Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement denouncing the UNHRC as “an antisemitic, corrupt, terrorist-supporting and irrelevant body.”
Netanyahu stated that instead of addressing the war crimes committed by Hamas during the October 7th massacre, the UN is falsely accusing Israel of sexual violence. He went on to say, “This is not a Human Rights Council – it is a Blood Rights Council.”
Several Israeli officials have described the report as a “blood libel” that disregards the sexual violence perpetrated on Oct. 7.
US Ambassador Designate to the United Nations Elise Stefanik also condemned the “baseless report” .
Stefanik stated that the “Human Rights Council” failed to condemn Hamas’ atrocities against Israel, including the slaughter, torture, and kidnapping of civilians, and the use of rape and sexual violence against Israeli women and girls, yet attacks Israel with unfounded smears.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon referred to the report as “another vile and distorted document from the UN.”
Danon asserted that the report is worthless and that anyone who supports it is complicit in whitewashing Hamas’ war crimes. He added, “The UN is busy looking for ways to blame Israel instead of facing reality. History will judge you.”
UNWatch Executive Director Hillel Neuer likened the U.N. inquiry to a Stalinist show trial, accusing it of twisting facts to falsely accuse Israel of Hamas’ crimes.
The report details alleged abuses by Israeli troops, referring to them as the Israel Security Forces (ISF) instead of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It also criticizes Israel’s conduct of the war, claiming the destruction resulted in “disproportionate violence against women and children.”
The report also mentions complaints of forced public stripping. Israel maintains this is necessary to prevent detainees from concealing explosives, citing a 2023 CNN interview with former IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus. The report acknowledges that “strip-searches for security justifications are not unlawful,” but argues that Israel’s process did not meet international standards.
Commission Chair Navi Pillay condemned the “deplorable increase in sexual and gender-based violence.” She claims Israel uses sexual violence to “terrorize” Palestinians and create “a system of oppression that undermines their right to self-determination.”
Anne Bayefsky, Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President of Human Rights Voices, stated that Navi Pillay has long supported the 2001 UN ‘Durban Declaration’ which she claims slanders the Jewish state, and that members have complained about antisemitism being raised as a diversion.
The commission alleges that sexual violence, including rape, is part of the IDF’s “standard operating procedures towards Palestinians.”
Bayefsky claims the commission ignored submissions challenging their conclusions and refused testimony from NGOs that would have contradicted their findings.
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