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Israel's military: "We are shocked by reports of deliberate attacks and extrajudicial killings of Palestinian women and children"

Photo: Leo Correa / AP

UN experts have made harsh accusations against the Israeli military: Israeli soldiers are said to have committed serious attacks against girls and women in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In an official press release, the experts expressed deep concern about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls since October 7.

The experts include the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. She came under criticism at the beginning of February when she claimed that the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023 was not motivated by anti-Semitic sentiment.

According to the report, those detained include human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers. Many of them were reportedly treated inhumanely and degradingly. They were denied menstrual pads, food and medication. Some of them were also said to have been severely beaten. On at least one occasion, detained Palestinian women were allegedly kept in a cage in the rain and cold without food.

According to unspecified reports, Palestinian women and girls in Gaza were arbitrarily executed, often alongside family members, including their children. "We are shocked by reports of deliberate attacks and extrajudicial killings of Palestinian women and children in places where they have sought refuge or while fleeing," the UN experts said. "Some of them were reportedly holding pieces of white cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or allied forces."

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed concern. There are credible reports that at least two of the detained Palestinian women were raped. Others were “subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault.” They would have had to strip naked and be searched by male officers. They were also photographed “under humiliating circumstances.”

"We remind the Israeli government of its commitment to uphold the right to life, safety, health and dignity of Palestinian women and girls and to ensure that no one is subjected to violence, torture, ill-treatment or degrading treatment, including sexual violence," it said Experts.

Israel denies allegations

They called for an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough and effective investigation into the allegations and called on Israel to cooperate with the investigation. Israel rejects the allegations as “unfounded.”

eru/AP