UN experts are calling for a full investigation into credible allegations that Palestinian women and girls have been subjected to sexual assault while in Israeli detention.
A panel of experts has stated that there is evidence of at least two cases of rape alongside other cases of sexual humiliation and threats of rape.
The UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, has stated that the actual extent of the sexual violence could be significantly higher. Alsalem says "We might not know for a long time what the actual number of victims are."
Reem Alsalem also notes that victims hesitate to report sexual assault due to fears of retaliation.
Since the attacks on 7 October, there has been an increasingly permissive attitude towards sexual violence against Palestinian women and girls in Israeli detention according to Alsalem.
"I would say that, on the whole, violence and dehumanization of Palestinian women and children and civilians has been normalized throughout this war", the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls stated.
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