International body documents instances of sexual misconduct inflicted upon Palestinian population
The upcoming annual United Nations (UN) report on sexual violence is set to shed light on a troubling issue that has been a point of contention in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine: credible allegations of systematic sexual violence and torture against Palestinian prisoners by Israeli security forces.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern over these reports and has called for clear orders against sexual violence, investigations of all credible allegations, free access for UN staff, and the naming of those responsible for implementing such measures in the Gaza Strip.
The denial of access to UN observers by the Israeli government has been a point of contention in this discussion. This denial has made it difficult for Guterres to gather evidence, as he stated in a letter to UN Ambassador Danny Danon.
The allegations of sexual violence involve incidents in several prisons, a detention center, and a military base. They include rape, sexualized torture, and degrading treatment, often targeting men and boys specifically.
Investigations by news outlets, human rights organizations, and UN bodies have documented these abuses in Israeli detention facilities, especially following the escalation of conflict in October 2023.
For instance, a 2024 investigation by The Independent detailed sexual violence, rape with sharp objects, and torture of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody. Released prisoners from facilities like Sde Teiman described guards using objects such as carrots and iron batons to sexually assault detainees.
The UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) June 2024 report confirmed a "significant increase" in sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian men and boys amounting to torture and cruel treatment. Human rights groups like Addameer and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society have also documented widespread patterns of abuse, including sexual violence.
Israeli authorities deny these widespread sexual abuse allegations, but calls for independent investigations continue amid consistent testimonies from detainees and released prisoners. Reports in early 2025 note that men hostages released from Gaza captivity reportedly faced worse sexual and physical abuse compared to women, showing a gendered pattern of violence by Israeli forces.
UN Ambassador Danon, however, dismissed the allegations on Twitter, stating that Guterres bases himself on unfounded allegations based on tendentious publications.
As the annual UN report on sexual violence approaches, the international community awaits its findings and recommendations to address this concerning issue in the Gaza Strip. The demand for independent, transparent investigations remains strong, with the hope that documented accounts of systematic and severe sexual violence and torture by Israeli security forces against Palestinian prisoners will be thoroughly examined and addressed.
[1] The Independent, "Israel accused of systematic sexual violence against Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody," 2024. [2] B’Tselem, "Institutionalized Abuse and Torture against Palestinian Detainees," 2024. [3] Addameer, "Report: Sexual Violence against Palestinian Detainees," 2025.
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