Israeli forces and settlers are committing acts of gender-based and sexualised violence that are contributing to the displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a new study has found.
In a report titled “Sexual violence and forcible transfer in the West Bank: How the exploitation of gender dynamics drives displacement”, the West Bank Protection Consortium documented at least 16 cases involving sexual crimes perpetrated by Israeli settlers and soldiers.
Sexual violence, which remains widely underreported due to social stigma, is being used to pressure communities to leave their homes and disrupt daily life, the report published on Monday said.
It found that more than 70 percent of displaced households interviewed identified threats against women and children - particularly sexual misconduct - as a decisive factor in their decision to leave.
"In response, families adopt gendered protective strategies, including the partial transfer of women and children and recourse to early marriage, in an effort to reduce exposure to harm," the report said.
