Sexual violence in the West Bank emerges as tool to intimidate Palestinians
Summary
A Palestinian man named Qusay Abu al-Kabash was sexually assaulted during a settler attack on his community in the West Bank’s Jordan Valley. Reports show that sexual violence and harassment are increasingly used as a tactic to intimidate Palestinians and force them to leave their homes.Key Facts
- On March 13, more than 70 settlers attacked Khirbet Hamsa al-Fawqa in the occupied West Bank.
- Qusay Abu al-Kabash was beaten, sexually assaulted, and threatened during the attack.
- Settlers also beat many residents, stole hundreds of livestock, and threatened them with death.
- Sexual violence and harassment have become more common in the West Bank, involving both settlers and Israeli soldiers.
- A report by the West Bank Protection Consortium documents sexual violence cases over nearly three years.
- Over 70% of displaced Palestinian families said sexual violence threats influenced their decision to leave.
- Women in Jenin refugee camp reported being subjected to forced strip searches by Israeli soldiers.
- Fear, social stigma, and the difficulty of documenting these incidents mean the problem is likely larger than reported.
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