Israel rejects 'despicable and unfounded' UN accusations of sexual violence against Palestinian women

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday accused Israeli forces of raping Palestinian women and girls in detention – an allegation that Israel immediately rejected.

“Israel forcefully rejects the despicable and unfounded claims published today by a group of so-called UN experts, including one who just days ago legitimised the massacre of October 7 in which more than 1,200 people were murdered, executed and raped, and another who publicly doubted the testimonies of Israeli victims of gender-based and sexual violence,” Israel’s delegation to the UN posted on 𝕏.

Israel pointed out the blatant hypocrisy of the UN, which remained silent about the atrocious sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas operatives against Jewish women during the terror attack on Oct. 7.

“These mandate holders have remained silent on the horrific sexual violence and gender-based violence perpetrated by Hamas on, and since, October 7. It is clear that the co-signatories are motivated not by the truth but by their hatred for Israel and its people,” stated Israel's Foreign Ministry.

“The State of Israel will continue to abide by its obligations under international law. No complaint has been received by Israeli authorities but Israel remains ready to investigate any concrete claims of misconduct by its security forces when presented with credible allegations and evidence.”

The United Nations waited two months to officially condemn the rape and sexual violence perpetrated by Palestinian terrorists against Israeli women and girls as a weapon of war. Israel and activists had waged a long campaign against the atrocities before the UN broke its silence on the matter.

UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten made her first visit to Israel since the war earlier this month. She admitted that she was only able to fully understand the scale of the atrocities when she saw the devastation of Israel's southern border communities with her own eyes.

“The world outside cannot understand the magnitude of the event,” Patten said. “I, myself, also internalized the magnitude of the event just by being here myself.”

In December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed women’s rights organizations for their silence in the face of horrible sexual crimes committed against Israeli women, teens and girls.

“I didn’t hear the human rights organizations, or the women’s organizations, or the women’s organizations of the UN… and I ask them: Where are you? Were you quiet because we were talking about Jewish women?” he asked.

The UN human rights office claims the IDF committed “deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces.”

According to UN experts, there were “reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped, while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence.”