There have been reports of Palestinian women and girls being killed without reason in Gaza, sometimes along with their family members, including their children, according to information they have received.

Killed while fleeing 

The experts expressed their shock at the news of Palestinian women and children being purposely targeted and killed without trial in areas where they were seeking shelter or trying to escape. According to reports, some of the victims were holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli military or associated groups.

They voiced 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 the start of the conflict on 7 October following the deadly Hamas terror attacks in Israel. 

According to sources, numerous detainees have been subjected to cruel and humiliating treatment, including being denied basic necessities such as menstrual products, food, and medication. Some have also been physically assaulted, with reports of Palestinian women being kept in a cage without shelter or sustenance during inclement weather.

Incarceration-related sexual abuse

The experts expressed concern over reports of Palestinian women and girls in custody being sexually assaulted by male Israeli army officers, including being forced to strip and searched. According to reports, some female detainees were raped and others were threatened with sexual violence.

According to reports, the Israeli military allegedly took photos of women prisoners in humiliating conditions and shared them on the internet.

The specialists were also worried about an unspecified amount of Palestinian women and children, including girls, who have allegedly disappeared after interacting with the Israeli military in Gaza.

They stated that there have been troubling accounts of the Israeli army forcefully relocating at least one baby girl into Israel, and of youngsters being taken away from their parents with unknown whereabouts.

Call for probe

“We urge the Israeli Government to fulfill its duty in protecting the fundamental rights of Palestinian women and girls, including the right to life, safety, health, and dignity. It is imperative that no one is subjected to any form of violence, torture, ill-treatment, or degrading treatment, including sexual violence.”

The experts on human rights have urged for an unbiased, timely, comprehensive, and efficient examination of the accusations, and for Israel to collaborate with the investigation.

The warning states that the alleged actions, when considered as a whole, may be severe breaches of global human rights and humanitarian laws. They could also be considered as significant offenses under international criminal law and potentially prosecuted under the Rome Statute.

The Rome Statute, signed in July 1998, created the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

Independent voices 

Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls and Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, released a statement alongside the members of the UN Working group on discrimination against women and girls (Dorothy Estrada Tanck as Chair, Claudia Flores, Ivana Krstić, Haina Lu, and Laura Nyirinkindi).

The UN Human Rights Council selects Special Rapporteurs and independent experts to provide reports and recommendations on particular topics or situations within a country.

They operate as volunteers and are not affiliated with any government or group. They work as individuals and are not employed by the UN, nor do they receive compensation for their efforts.

Source: United Nations News