Palestinian Victims of Abuse Testify at UN, Highlighting Severe Human Rights Violations
Palestinians testified at the United Nations about severe abuse, including sexual violence, endured in Israeli detention. Key witnesses detailed systematic mistreatment, facing denial from Israeli officials. The hearings spotlight a troubling absence of accountability for these actions, raising significant human rights concerns in the ongoing conflict.
In a recent session at the United Nations in Geneva, Palestinian individuals shared harrowing accounts of severe beatings and sexual abuse endured during detention by Israeli forces and by Israeli settlers. One notable testimony came from Said Abdel Fattah, a 28-year-old nurse, who described his mistreatment, stating, “I was humiliated and tortured,” reflecting on the ordeal he faced while imprisoned since November 2023.
Fattah recounted being subjected to extreme conditions and physical abuse, which included being stripped naked, threatened with sexual violence, and enduring beatings over a two-month period while moved between various crowded detention facilities. He explained how one interrogation left him bleeding from multiple areas of his body, expressing, “I felt like my soul [left] my body.”
The hearings focused specifically on allegations concerning sexual and reproductive violence perpetrated by Israeli security forces, mirroring claims from advocates regarding a growing pattern of abuse against Palestinians, particularly since the onset of conflict following Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023. Chris Sidoti, a member of the independent Commission of Inquiry (COI), emphasized that victims deserve to share their stories.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, condemned the session’s underpinnings, asserting that allegations against Israeli individuals are unfounded and that Israel maintains a system of law and order to address wrongdoings. He criticized the hearings as unproductive, asserting that any claims were being adequately investigated.
Palestinian attorney Sahar Francis argued that instances of abuse have become widespread and highlighted that strip searches of those arrested were commonplace, often involving severe mistreatment. Other testimonies revealed harrowing tales from victims like Mohamed Matar, who described extreme physical and psychological torture at the hands of security agents and settlers, as well as a refusal of police intervention during their abuse.
Matar’s account of subjugation included acts of degrading violence that led him to plead for death, and he expressed disbelief at the depravity he endured, which he chronicled, stating, “I didn’t think there were people on Earth with such a level of ugliness, sadism and cruelty.”
The testimonies presented at the United Nations highlight severe allegations of torture and sexual abuse against Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces and settlers. These claims underscore a disturbing narrative of systematic violence and a lack of accountability for such actions. The contrast between the victims’ experiences and Israel’s assurances regarding the investigation of misconduct prompts critical dialogue about the human rights landscape in the region.
Original Source: jordantimes.com
