UN experts warns of extreme Israeli violations against Palestinian women and girls
UN experts express concern over reports of alleged human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank.
UN experts have expressed concern over allegations of human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls in Gaza and the occupied West Bank since Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement, that they had received information that Palestinian women and girls “have been subjected to arbitrary execution in Gaza, often with their family members, including their children.”
The United Nations experts said they were “shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they have taken refuge, or while fleeing.” Some of them were reportedly carrying pieces of white cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or its forces.
Israel launched an attack on Gaza after the Hamas movement led an attack on Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people, according to an Al Jazeera count based on official Israeli figures. About 250 others were detained and transferred to Gaza as hostages.
Israel responded with a devastating bombing and ground invasion that displaced more than 80% of Gaza’s population and turned much of the territory into rubble. More than 30,000 people were killed in the Israeli attack, according to Palestinian authorities.
In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israeli forces have intensified their raids since October 7, killing hundreds of Palestinians and arresting thousands more.
UN experts expressed concern about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers in Gaza and the West Bank.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights said that many of them were subjected to inhumane treatment, deprived of menstrual pads, food and medicine, and were subjected to severe beatings. On at least one occasion, Palestinian women detained in Gaza were allegedly held in a cage in the rain and cold, without food.
“We are particularly distressed by reports that detained Palestinian women and girls have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped and searched by male Israeli military officers. Experts said that at least two female Palestinian detainees were raped, while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence.
They pointed out that photos of female detainees in humiliating conditions were taken by the Israeli army and published on the Internet. Experts said an unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, went missing after coming into contact with the Israeli army in Gaza.
They said: “There are disturbing reports of at least one infant being forcibly transferred by the Israeli army to Israel, and of children being separated from their parents, and their whereabouts remain unknown.” They called for an independent, impartial and effective investigation into these allegations, and for Israel’s cooperation.
The experts said: “Taken together, these alleged acts may constitute serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and rise to the level of serious crimes under international criminal law that can be prosecuted under the Rome Statute.”
“Those responsible for these clear crimes must be held accountable, and the victims and their families are entitled to full redress and justice.”
