United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned the Israeli occupation that it could be included in the UN’s “blacklist” of entities and groups suspected of involvement in sexual violence during armed conflicts, following documented violations against Palestinians.
In a letter addressed to Israeli ambassador Danny Danon, Guterres said he was “gravely concerned” about reports of abuse by the Israeli military and security forces in multiple prisons, a detention center, and a military base. He stated that “Israel” could be categorized as abusers in his upcoming report on sexual violence in conflict “due to significant concerns of patterns of certain forms of sexual violence that have been consistently documented by the United Nations.”
According to Guterres, cases recorded by the UN indicate recurring patterns of sexual violence, including genital violence, prolonged forced nudity, and repeated strip searches carried out in an abusive and degrading manner.
'Israel' not allowing UN monitors into prisons
The Israeli occupation has refused to allow UN monitors entry, which Guterres said complicates the ability to make a “definitive determination” about the patterns, trends, and specific instances of sexual violence by its forces. He urged the Israeli regime to take immediate measures to end all acts of sexual violence and grant access for investigations.
In March, UN-backed human rights organizations accused “Israel” of committing acts of sexual and gender-based violence. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory documented these violations and charged Israeli forces with rape and sexual violence against Palestinian abductees.
Last year, the Israeli military announced the detention of nine soldiers in connection with the sexual abuse of a Palestinian abductee at the notorious Sde Teiman prison. Israeli media later released a video showing soldiers sexually assaulting a male abductee, which the US State Department condemned as “horrific.”
Source:Websites
