United Nations experts have called for an independent investigation into allegations that Israeli forces have violated the rights of Palestinian women in Gaza and the West Bank.
The U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner said in a statement on Monday the allegations, which Israeli officials denounced as “despicable and unfounded,” include the extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women, arbitrary detention, inhuman and degrading treatment, and sexual violence.
“We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces,” the experts said.
“We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence,” they added.
The Israel Defense Forces denied the allegations and said its forces adhere to international law, according to CNN.
“Without precise details or proof of individual cases, it is not possible for us to examine them in depth,” the IDF said, adding that it “forcefully rejects” what it described as “despicable and unfounded claims.” The Israeli military said it hasn’t received complaints of abuse but that it was “ready to investigate any concrete claims of misconduct by its security forces when presented with credible allegations and evidence.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The experts are Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on violence against women and girls and its causes and consequences, and Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, as well as members of the working group on discrimination against women and girls, including Chairwoman Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, Claudia Flores, Ivana Krstic, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi. They make up the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, which is the largest body of independent experts in the U.N. human rights system and is the general name of the council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms.
Israeli leaders and some nonprofit groups have criticized the U.N. throughout the course of the war for being slow to denounce the reports of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel that prompted the war.
