US hypocrisy: When rape proof asked from Palestine, UN, not 'Israel'
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The State Department spokesperson says the US needs independent proof from the UN, while it relied solely on "credible experts" during alleged reports of rape by Palestinian Resistance fighters against Israeli women.
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US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller answers questions during a news briefing at the State Department on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
During a press briefing, the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US is aware of the United Nations investigation into sexual assaults and rapes against Palestinian women by Israeli forces in prisons, but said that the US can't "independently confirm" them.
“I have seen the allegations. I cannot independently confirm the reports,” Miller said, adding, “I will say that we have been clear that civilians and detained individuals must be treated humanely and in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
“We strongly urge Israel to thoroughly and transparently investigate credible allegations and ensure any accountability for abuses and violations, and that will continue to be our position,” he continued.
This comes days after a group, called by the UN Human Rights Council “experts”, raised concern over "credible allegations" of grave human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and urged looking into relevant evidence.
“We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers,” the group said.
While the Israelis continue to search for a single piece of evidence to back their false narratives of the beheaded babies and cases of rape and sexual violence by the Palestinian Resistance, #UN experts are saying that there are “credible allegations” of arbitrary detention,… pic.twitter.com/twl2AcP5aX
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 22, 2024
“At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence.”
Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, is a member of the group.
The group argued that the IOF took photos of female Palestinian detainees “in degrading circumstances” and posted them online.
“Taken together, these alleged acts may constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and amount to serious crimes under international criminal law that could be prosecuted under the Rome Statute,” the group maintained.
Read next: Debunking Israeli claims: What led to NYT's false Hamas rape story
“Those responsible for these apparent crimes must be held accountable and victims and their families are entitled to full redress and justice.”
According to the UN, special rapporteurs and independent experts “work on a voluntary basis and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and are not U.N. staff and do not receive payment for their work.”
'I didn't see, I don't know'
AP diplomatic reporter, Matt Lee, tried to make a comparison by recalling the Israeli allegations of rape by the Palestinian Resistance on October 7, which turned the tables and further exposed American bias and double standards.
Lee asked Miller if they received “confirmation of what Hamas allegedly did to Israelis, who were women and girls," to which Miller responded, “There are Israeli medical experts who have testified to that, and that is something we consider credible. Yes”.
“You consider those instances to be confirmed, but not what the U.N. was talking about yesterday?” Lee asked. Miller claimed, “We have seen this report, and we have called for an investigation to confirm whether the allegations are true or not."
During an exchange with Associated Press reporter Matt Lee at the Tuesday press briefing, #US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed recent statements from UN experts regarding accusations of human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls in the… pic.twitter.com/NnjCH5caZs
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 22, 2024
Lee asked if they were “willing to take [the] word of an Israeli—and I’m not saying you shouldn’t—but if you’re willing to take the word of Israeli medical experts on what happened to the people who were abducted on Oct. 7, whose word are you willing to take—if not the U.N., who?”
“A full, independent, credible investigation,” Miller claimed.
“Would it have to be an Israeli medical expert? Or a Palestinian?,” Lee asked.
“Of course, it would not have to be an Israeli medical expert. A credible medical expert,” Miller said. “I don’t want to prescribe who it would be—a credible medical expert that can testify to it would be something we would look at, of course... I’m not going to opine on a matter that hasn’t been conducted,” he said.
What? Who?
Miller claimed that the allegations of Hamas assaulting Israeli women and girls were “a well-accepted fact.. because the investigations produced credible evidence that not just the United States accepted but countries around the world accepted," failing to acknowledge that no such proof has been provided yet.
“With respect to these new allegations, we want to see an investigation, and we will, of course, look at the investigation, make our judgements when that investigation is concluded.”
He continued to confirm that the department has contacted the UN and "Israel" for more evidence and encouraged the opening of an investigation.
Here's what this looks like and what it truly is: The US once again showcases its double standards by using Matthew Miller as a loudspeaker to project it. The US relies on "Israeli medical experts" mere hours after the fake allegation of the rape of Israeli women but tries to be a turtle in owning up to the UN reports of Palestinian women being raped by Israeli soldiers.
A former US official came out on CNN in November to specifically confirm the rape of Palestinian children by "Israel". To further prove the bias, the US, being so caring toward "Israel", has not spoken of the actual rape occurring among the Israelis themselves in evacuee hotels - or even among the IOF units themselves.
