US official accused IOF of sexually abusing Palestinian women
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An Israeli general called the accusations "disconnected from reality," even though the US official cited evidence from the UN presented to the Israeli government.
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Women mourn relatives killed during an Israeli bombardment of Al-Najar Hospital in Rafah, on February 12, 2024 (AFP)
In an interview for 103FM, Israeli general Amir Avivi recalled how during a meeting with the State Department official responsible for the Israeli-Palestinian portfolio, the US official accused the IOF of "systematically" sexually assaulting Palestinian women, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Aviv explained that he was "shaken" during the meeting, citing that during the casual discussions about the situation, the officially "suddenly" accused the IOF of "systematically sexually abusing Palestinian women."
The general explained that he believed the accusations to be "disconnected from reality," even though the US official cited evidence from the UN presented to the Israeli government.
He challenged the official wondering how it would be possible for something like this to happen without the media reporting on it. He also told her that he wanted "greater awareness" regarding what is occurring in the US State Department, adding that he left feeling that the Americans "simply don't talk to us and don't pass on any information."
When asked during the interview if the official US position is that Israeli occupation forces engage in sexual assault against Palestinians, Avivi remarked that as far as he is concerned, "every word she utters" - in her capacity as a State Department official holding the Israeli-Palestinian portfolio - is considered an official US position, because, according to him, after all, "she is a government official. When she says, for example, 'You did not provide evidence that Hamas is stealing humanitarian aid and you are starving the population,' what is she talking about?"
Israeli forces rape women in Gaza, execute others, UN 'appalled'
In February, UN experts raised concern over "credible allegations" of grave human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
According to the information, Palestinian women and girls were arbitrarily executed in Gaza along with their family members, even while fleeing, and, on at least one occasion, women detained were allegedly kept in a cage in the rain and cold, without food.
The experts expressed they were "particularly distressed" about reports of detained women and girls being subjected to numerous forms of sexual assault, like being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers.
At least two female Palestinian detainees were raped, while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual abuse.
The experts expressed concern that an unknown number of Palestinian women and children, including girls, have reportedly gone missing after contact with the Israeli occupation in Gaza.
“There are disturbing reports of at least one female infant forcibly transferred by the Israeli army into 'Israel,' and of children being separated from their parents, whose whereabouts remain unknown,” the experts said.
