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Palestinians recount harrowing tales of torture and sexual violence at UN hearings
This week marked a significant moment as Palestinians shared their distressing accounts of abuse at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces during the latest round of public hearings of the United Nations’ Independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) concerning the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
During these hearings, individuals provided testimonials detailing severe beatings, sexual abuse, and both physical and psychological torture they endured. Mohamed Hassan Matar, a resident of the West Bank and local activist, presented a graphic account of his ordeal on October 12, 2023. Matar had joined fellow activists to assist a Bedouin community facing heightened aggression from illegal Israeli settlers. However, they encountered violent resistance, culminating in their capture by settlers and members of an Israeli security agency.
Describing the brutality inflicted upon them, Matar recounted being blindfolded, bound, and stripped of his clothing. Over a harrowing 12-hour period, he detailed a litany of abuses including forced consumption of excrement, physical assaults, and rape. “I cried out for my captors to shoot me to end the torture. I didn’t think there were people on Earth with such a level of ugliness, sadism, and cruelty,” Matar stated, illustrating the profound psychological and physical toll of his experiences.
Matar's testimony was accompanied by shocking photographs that mirrored previously circulated images by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) of Palestinian detainees in Gaza.
Another poignant testimony came from Said Abdel Fattah, a 28-year-old nurse who was detained from Al Shifa hospital in Gaza in November 2023. Through video link, Fattah described the frigid conditions of his confinement, severe beatings, and threats of sexual violence endured over nearly two months in overcrowded facilities. He specifically recalled an instance from January 2024, conveying the agony of being assaulted and the physical damage inflicted during his captivity. “I felt my soul leave my body as my Israeli captor kept smashing my genitals,” he recounted, emphasizing the brutalities faced by countless detained individuals.
Sahar Francis, a Palestinian human rights lawyer with over 27 years of experience advocating for political prisoners, also addressed the UN hearing. She highlighted that the traumatic use of sexual violence and physical assault against detainees is not a new phenomenon but has escalated to what she deems a “wide-spread policy” following the events of October 7.
In response to the testimonies, Daniel Meron, Israel’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, characterized the hearing as futile, asserting that Israel has already conducted investigations into allegations of wrongdoing. Ironically, Meron had previously committed to amplifying the voices of victims of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations during his UN mission.
The COI's hearings serve as a critical platform for bringing to light the grim realities faced by many Palestinians, emphasizing the urgent need for action regarding human rights abuses in the region.
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