Gaza Palestine, March 25, 2025 – In a harrowing testimony delivered at a recent UN Commission of Inquiry hearing, Kifeya Khraim, International Advocacy Coordinator at the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC), a Palestinian feminist NGO based in Ramallah, detailed shocking allegations of systematic sexual violence and intimidation perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian women.
The testimony, presented as part of an ongoing investigation into human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, painted a grim picture of abuse occurring at checkpoints, during home invasions, and within detention centers.
Khraim recounted specific cases of sexual violence, including one particularly disturbing incident involving a Palestinian woman in a detention center. “Rape was mainly done by Israeli female officers inserting objects into the genitals of detainees,” she stated. “We have also documented a case of gang rape by two different soldiers, twice, on a woman in a detention center. She said she was filmed during the assault.” The victim’s account underscores a pattern of humiliation and degradation, with the alleged filming adding a layer of psychological torment to the physical abuse.
The abuses extend beyond detention facilities, according to Khraim. She described how Palestinian women are subjected to sexual violence during Israeli military operations, such as home invasions, where they are often forced to strip naked and perform humiliating acts in front of soldiers. At checkpoints—a daily reality for many Palestinians—women face similar violations. “We have women telling us that inspection devices were inserted inside them without being able to identify that as rape or sexual violence,” Khraim explained, highlighting a critical barrier to reporting: many victims lack the knowledge or legal framework to categorize their experiences as sexual assault.
This lack of awareness, compounded by threats of retaliation, has silenced countless women, Khraim argued. She emphasized that survivors are often coerced into remaining quiet about their ordeals, with Israeli forces allegedly using intimidation tactics to ensure compliance. “The threats to remain silent after abuse are a key part of the intimidation,” she told the hearing, noting that this systemic silencing perpetuates the cycle of violence.
The WCLAC has been documenting such cases for years, with a marked increase in reported incidents since October 7, 2023, following the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Khraim’s testimony aligns with findings from a June 2024 report by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded that “the frequency, prevalence, and severity of sexual and gender-based crimes perpetrated against Palestinians” indicate these acts are part of Israeli Security Forces’ “operating procedures.” The report cited instances of forced nudity, sexualized torture, and rape threats, corroborating the patterns Khraim described.
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During the hearing, Khraim also shed light on the broader context of these violations. She noted that the destruction of reproductive healthcare facilities in Gaza—such as the bombing of Al-Basma IVF Centre in December 2023—has compounded the suffering of Palestinian women, contributing to what the UN has called “reproductive violence.” This, she argued, is part of a larger strategy to “destabilize, dominate, oppress, and destroy the Palestinian people,” a claim echoed by human rights advocates who point to the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and girls.
Israel has consistently denied these allegations, with its government labeling them “unfounded” and accusing UN bodies of bias. In a statement issued earlier this month, the Israeli mission in Geneva rejected the Commission of Inquiry’s findings, asserting that such reports “instrumentalize sexual violence to advance a political agenda.” Israeli officials have yet to respond directly to Khraim’s testimony, but past rebuttals have dismissed similar claims as lacking credible evidence.
For Khraim and the WCLAC, however, the evidence lies in the testimonies of survivors—testimonies that are painstakingly gathered despite the risks. “Palestinian women are breaking the silence now because so many are being assaulted systematically,” she said, referencing a shift in recent months where more victims have come forward, emboldened by the sheer scale of the abuses.
The UN Commission of Inquiry, established in 2021 to investigate violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, is expected to include Khraim’s testimony in its forthcoming report. Human rights organizations, including B’Tselem and Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, have urged the international community to act, calling for independent investigations and accountability for the alleged perpetrators.
As the hearing concluded, Khraim’s words lingered: a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for justice. “These are not isolated incidents,” she said. “This is a system designed to break us.” For now, the world watches—and waits—to see if her call will be answered.
