UN chief’s report accuses Israeli forces of rape, sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees
NEW YORK: A newly released UN report has accused Israeli military, prison, and security personnel of committing widespread sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, including rape, gang rape, torture targeting genitals, forced nudity, and threats of sexual assault.
Presenting the Secretary-General’s 17th annual report on conflict-related sexual violence on Friday, Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, said Israeli forces were listed in the document based on what the UN described as credible evidence of persistent patterns of rape and other forms of sexual abuse against Palestinians in detention and during military operations.
Patten said the allegations involved the Israel Defense Forces, along with the Israel Prison Service, including the Keter initial response force, and the police counter-terrorism unit Yamam. She added that Israeli authorities had already been warned in the previous year’s report over concerns about abuse and restrictions preventing UN investigators from accessing detainees and detention facilities.
“Since last year’s notice, both the patterns of sexual violence and the denial of access have persisted,” Patten said.
