United Nations (UN) experts expressed Monday their concern over documented allegations of serious human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The experts explained that the information and reports they received indicate that Palestinian women and girls have been subjected to arbitrary executions in Gaza, often alongside their family members, including their children.
They said, “We were shocked by reports of deliberate targeting and “extrajudicial” executions of Palestinian women and children in places where they had taken refuge or while trying to flee.
According to reports, some of them were wearing pieces of white cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army and its forces.
The experts also expressed deep concern over the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists, and aid workers, in Gaza and the West Bank since October 7.
According to reports, “many of them were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment, deprived of food, medicine, and menstrual pads, and severely beaten.
The report said Palestinian women detained in Gaza were locked in a cage in the rain, cold, and without food.
The experts said, “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 police officers and the Israeli army. At least two Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped, while others were threatened with rape and sexual assault.
It was also reported that the Israeli military took photos of women detained in humiliating conditions and posted them on the Internet.
Experts have expressed concern over reports that an unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, have disappeared after encountering the Israeli army in Gaza, saying, "There are alarming reports of 'at least one infant who was forcibly transferred to Israel by the Israeli army'. Moreover, there are numerous children who have been separated from their parents and whose whereabouts are unknown.
They said, “We remind the Israeli government of its obligations to respect the rights to life, security, health, and dignity of Palestinian women and girls and to ensure that no one is subjected to violence, torture, ill-treatment, or degrading treatment, including sexual violence.
The experts also called for an independent, impartial, prompt, comprehensive, and effective investigation into these allegations, as well as for Israel's cooperation in these investigations.
“Taken together, these allegations may constitute flagrant and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, amounting to serious crimes under international criminal law, and may be actionable under the Rome Statute, underlined the experts.
He added, “Those responsible for these apparent crimes must be held accountable, and the victims and their families have the right to full reparation and justice.