The UN calls for a response to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The Commissioner for Human Rights called on the international community on Monday 9 September to act against this ” blatant disregard ” of international law. On this occasion, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict expressed serious concerns about the cases of rape and sexual violence committed against Palestinian detainees.
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With our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten
The list of abuses is scattered across several reports, but it is so long that Pramila Patten sounded the alarm on Monday. In New York, the UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict pointed out the deterioration of detention conditions for menPalestinian women and children under Israeli rule in detention. This since the attacks of October 7.
She believes that the situation is similar to ” sexualized torture “Humiliating strip searches are reportedly repeated, beatings and electrocutions to the genitals and anus have been reported by released prisoners, soldiers are said to have touched some female prisoners inappropriately, and detainees are said to have been filmed naked in humiliating positions. Abuses that are reminiscent of The Abu Ghraib Scandals in Iraq or Guantanamo, which placed American soldiers at the heart of controversy 20 years ago.
In July, a Palestinian detainee was hospitalized after being raped – and Israeli police have promised to investigate. But the UN is concerned about political interference in the ongoing judicial processes. It is also calling for the medical and psychological support needed to begin the healing process for the abused prisoners. However, NGOs have not been allowed to visit Palestinian prisoners since October 7, and have not received any information from the Israeli government.
Also read‘Naked’, ‘tied to their beds’: Doctor warns of conditions of detention of Palestinians in Israeli prison