Experts urge inquiry into reported abuses against Palestinian women, girls

 

Reports confirm arbitrary killings of Palestinian women and girls in Gaza, often in front of families, including children, as they sought refuge or fled conflict. Some victims held white cloth, a surrender symbol when targeted by Israeli forces. These incidents provoke widespread condemnation and raise grave concerns for civilian protection, especially for women and children, in conflict.

Concerns extend to hundreds of Palestinian women and girls arbitrarily detained in Gaza and the West Bank since October, including human rights defenders, journalists, and aid workers. Detainees face degrading treatment, denial of basic needs, and physical abuse.

Allegations include sexual assault and other degrading treatment of Palestinian women and girls in detention. Reports detail various forms of sexual violence and humiliating searches by Israeli officers. Shockingly, some detainees have been raped, with images of their degradation circulated online.

Concerns heighten over missing Palestinian women and children, with reports of infants forcibly taken into Israel and children separated from their parents after contact with Israeli forces in Gaza. Urgent international action is needed to address these violations, including independent investigations, accountability for perpetrators, and enhanced protection measures for civilians, especially women and children, in conflict zones.