Israeli destruction of IVF clinic a genocidal act: UN

Hamas seeks to expedite the prosecution of Israeli leaders for these crimes and swift trial at the ICC, while Netanyahu calls findings false and absurd

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A United Nations (UN) investigation concluded on Thursday that Israel carried out “genocidal acts” in Gaza through the destruction of its main IVF clinic, maternity facilities and other reproductive healthcare facilities.

The UN Commission of Inquiry said Israel had “intentionally attacked and destroyed” the Palestinian territory's main fertility centre, and had simultaneously imposed a siege and blocked aid including medication for ensuring safe pregnancies, deliveries and neonatal care.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted by calling the findings “false and absurd.”

In a statement, the UN commission said it found that Israeli authorities “have destroyed in part the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza as a group through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare.”

It said this amounted to “two categories of genocidal acts” during Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

The United Nations’ genocide convention defines that crime as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethical, racial or religious group.