DaysofPal- A new report by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reveals that sexual violence against Palestinians in Israeli prisons and detention centers has developed into a de facto state policy, used as a tool of subjugation and destruction. The report documents a sharp escalation in such abuses and the removal of prior restraints since 7 October 2023.
Titled “Another Genocide Behind Walls,” the report presents testimonies and evidence indicating widespread patterns of sexual violence, including rape, against detainees from the Gaza Strip. It concludes that these acts are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, systematic framework aimed at breaking both individual and collective will.
Widespread Patterns of Abuse
According to the report, detainees have been subjected to multiple forms of sexual violence, including direct assault, assault using objects, and targeted abuse of the genitals. Multiple security personnel often carry out these practices, and in some cases, they record them, reinforcing evidence that such violations are institutional rather than accidental
The findings also link sexual violence to broader detention conditions that inflict severe physical and psychological harm. Some victims reportedly sustained permanent injuries, including impairments to reproductive functions and long-term disabilities.
The documentation relies heavily on testimonies from former detainees released recently. However, researchers emphasize the likelihood of underreporting the full scale of abuse.
Khaled Ahmad, a researcher with the organization, described the process of documenting cases as extremely difficult. He noted that cultural and social factors discourage survivors from speaking out, particularly women, due to the stigma attached to sexual violence.
Ahmad stated that many cases remain undocumented, with both male and female victims choosing silence over disclosure. He explained that fear of social repercussions and further harm reinforces this silence.
The report highlights the use of sexual violence as a form of psychological warfare. It argues that perpetrators exploit deeply rooted values of dignity and privacy within Palestinian society, turning them into tools of coercion.
Victims are often left in emotional isolation, fearing that reporting abuse would lead to further humiliation or damage to their family’s reputation. This dynamic discourages survivors from seeking help and contributes to long-term psychological trauma.
Medical analysis cited in the report indicates that such abuse can lead to severe mental health conditions, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). Survivors may experience chronic fear, depression, insomnia, and difficulty reintegrating into daily life.
Systematic Targeting of Detainees
Testimonies collected by the organization describe patterns of abuse directed at men, boys, women, and girls. These include forced nudity, threats of rape, and physical assaults aimed at sensitive areas of the body.
The report indicates that these practices aim to inflict humiliation, undermine identity, and cause lasting physical and psychological damage. In some cases, detainees reportedly suffered severe injuries requiring surgical intervention or resulting in permanent loss of bodily functions.
The report criticizes the Israeli justice system for failing to function as an effective mechanism for accountability. Historically, indictments against soldiers for crimes against Palestinians occur in less than 1% of filed complaints. Euro-Med Monitor asserts that the judiciary often serves as a “procedural cover” that normalizes torture and grants immunity to perpetrators.
This structural failure is exemplified by high-profile cases where military systems were used to contain the repercussions of a crime rather than to ensure justice for the victim.
The findings further assert that the documented acts meet the legal definitions of torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and potentially genocide under international law, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Conventions.
Calls for International Action
In response to its findings, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor calls on the International Criminal Court to expand its ongoing investigation into the situation in Palestine to explicitly include genocide and prioritize cases involving sexual violence in detention.
The organization also urges states that are parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate fully with international investigations, prosecute suspects under national or universal jurisdiction, and ensure that perpetrators do not benefit from immunity.
Additionally, the report calls on the United Nations to formally list Israeli military and security agencies in its reporting mechanisms on conflict-related sexual violence, arguing that existing classifications do not adequately capture the scale and nature of these violations.
The report concludes with a call for urgent international support to establish comprehensive rehabilitation programs for survivors. These should include medical, psychological, and social services tailored to the needs of victims, along with mechanisms to protect witnesses and their families from retaliation.
According to the organization, addressing both accountability and survivor support is essential to confronting a systematic pattern of abuse with long-term consequences for individuals and society.
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