Algeria has called for an investigation into the sexual assaults by Israeli forces in Palestinian territories and reiterated the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza to halt the atrocities.
Algeria’s UN representative Amar Belani highlighted the importance of conducting in-depth investigations into the sexual violence perpetrated by the occupying forces.
The Algerian Press Service reported Belani’s statements, emphasizing that no individual, regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity, should endure sexual assault in the occupied Palestinian areas.
Belani expressed hope that the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, would gain access to various Israeli detention centers.
These centers are known for violating Palestinian rights and holding over 3,484 administrative detainees without trial.
Belani noted that Patten’s presence in Gaza would allow her to directly observe the scale of sexual assaults inflicted on Palestinians by the occupying forces and report these findings to the international community.
He pointed out that Palestinian women have been suffering from the effects of continuous aggression for decades, facing indescribable violence and discrimination.
The Palestinian people, particularly women, have been subjected to numerous violations of their dignity and humanity.
Belani lamented that this critical situation is not new but has persisted throughout the occupation, exacerbated by collective punishment policies.
He highlighted that nearly one million forcibly displaced individuals in Gaza are women, making up half of the forcibly displaced Palestinian population.
Human rights organizations in Palestine have reported an increase in arrests by the Zionist occupation, disproportionately affecting women.
There have been reports of Palestinian women in Gaza being detained in cages under harsh weather conditions without food. Belani emphasized that the suffering of Palestinians, especially women, is a real test of international law’s credibility.
He called for an end to these atrocities, underlining the urgent need for a ceasefire as the only viable solution.
Belani criticized the frequent impunity of Israeli officials, noting that despite over 1,400 complaints of torture filed by Palestinians since 2001, only three criminal investigations have been initiated, with none leading to charges.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has launched a devastating war on Gaza with US support, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties, mostly children and women, and a famine that has begun to take lives.
This has led to Israel facing charges of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice.
