Press release
Geneva – February 22, 2024
UN experts are calling on Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire and prioritize gender-responsive humanitarian measures following the International Court of Justice’s ruling on January 26, 2024. The situation in Gaza and the West Bank demands urgent attention, with widespread disruptions to schooling, housing destruction, limited access to healthcare, and an alarming increase in the risk of arbitrary detention and gender-based violence against women and girls.
UN experts expressing concern over restricted access to medical treatment and essential supplies in hospitals demand an immediate halt to Israeli forces’ attacks on Gaza’s hospitals. With less than a third of hospitals partially operational, the urgent need for medical assistance underscores the severity of the humanitarian crisis.
The experts outline six critical gender-responsive measures that Israel must prioritize immediately:
1- Implement an immediate ceasefire to prevent civilian casualties and displacement.
2- Establish a field hospital at the Rafah Crossing or offshore from Gaza, focusing on medical assistance for pregnancy and amputations while protecting existing hospitals.
3- Facilitate the delivery of essential supplies critical for the survival of women and girls, opening crossings for humanitarian aid and the movement of people.
4- Prioritize adequate supplies of menstrual hygiene products and sexual and reproductive health care for women and girls.
5- Build additional shelters and schools in Gaza, eliminating the use of educational facilities as shelters to ensure the resumption of girls’ education.
6- Provide safe spaces and reparations for women and girls survivors of gender-based violence, ensuring accountability for perpetrators, including Israeli authorities and settlers.
UN experts stress that these measures are practical steps that align with international human rights law and other obligations, serving as a demonstration of Israel’s commitment to protecting civilians and respecting their human rights.
However, the UN experts also express alarm over credible allegations of egregious human rights violations against Palestinian women and girls in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Reports suggest arbitrary executions, deliberate targeting, and extrajudicial killings of Palestinian women and children in areas where they sought refuge or while fleeing. The arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists, and humanitarian workers, raises serious concerns.
Of particular distress are reports of Palestinian women and girls in detention subjected to various forms of sexual assault, including being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. Some detainees were allegedly raped, while others faced threats of sexual violence. Disturbingly, photos of female detainees in degrading circumstances were reportedly taken by the Israeli army and shared online.
The experts demand an independent and impartial investigation into these allegations and urge Israel to cooperate fully. The severity of these acts may constitute grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, potentially leading to prosecution under the Rome Statute. The call for accountability for those responsible is unmistakable, with victims and their families entitled to full redress and justice.
