United Nations Human Rights Council (Wikipedia Commons)
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UN human rights experts Monday called for a probe into alleged Israeli abuses against Palestinian women and girls in Gaza, including killings and rape. A group of experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said there are credible allegations that Palestinian women and girls have been arbitrarily executed in Gaza, often together with family members, including their children, according to a statement.
“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 in a statement. There were also allegations of sexual assault committed by Israeli army officers against Palestinian women.
“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,” the experts said. They called for an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough and effective investigation into the allegations and for Israel to cooperate with such investigations.
The experts expressed serious 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 since 7 October.
“Taken together, these alleged acts may constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and amount to serious crimes under international criminal law that could be prosecuted under the Rome Statute,” the experts said. “Those responsible for these apparent crimes must be held accountable and victims and their families are entitled to full redress and justice.”
