Israeli soldiers sexually harassing Palestinian women at Hebron checkpoint: Report
Hebron residents report surge in sexual harassment and humiliating treatment at checkpoints since outbreak of war
Palestinians cross an Israeli checkpoint in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, on 5 April 2024 (AFP)
Published date: 29 August 2024
Israeli soldiers have increasingly been sexually harassing Palestinian women at checkpoints in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to testimonies reported by Haaretz.
In one incident, a young Palestinian woman said an Israeli soldier exposed himself to her at a checkpoint on 17 August.
The woman said that she was crossing the Tamar checkpoint in the Tel
Rumeida neighbourhood when the soldier stopped her and instructed her to
open her bag. After she complied, he took down part of his trousers and
asked her: “Do you want it? Come and see.”
"Out of shock, I left the checkpoint and didn't know what was
happening, I felt as if someone had given me a slap,” she told Haaretz.
The young woman reported the incident to the local community leader,
Basam Abu Aisha, who then contacted a senior civil administration
official, who accompanied the woman to the checkpoint, where she
identified her harasser.
According to Abu Aisha, he was subsequently threatened by a civil
administration officer, Shadi Shubash, who told him that the young
woman’s testimony was a “lie” and warned him not to “get involved”.
“I was exhausted and depressed by it. Now it's easier for me, but
when I want to go through the checkpoint I'm afraid the same thing will
happen again," the woman told Haaretz.
The Israeli forces said that they have launched an investigation into the incident.
A surge in sexual harassment
Following the incident, other women reported similar humiliating
treatment at checkpoints in the city, testifying to a spike in sexual
harassment by Israeli soldiers in recent weeks.
One young woman reported that an Israeli soldier took photos of her and her sister when they were crossing the same checkpoint.
Another reported that an Israeli soldier searched her phone while holding her hand.
'He grabbed my hand and told me to open the phone. I told him these were my private photos, why should I open them?'
– Female resident of Hebron
"He grabbed my hand and told me to open the phone. I told him these were my private photos, why should I open them?" she said.
Others reported experiencing regular verbal abuse as they passed
checkpoints, saying that young women are now scared to cross them on
their own.
Hebron residents also reported that, since metal detectors were
installed following 7 October, women are sometimes required to remove
their clothing. In some cases, women reported being instructed to remove
their hijabs.
In June, a UN report
found that Israeli authorities have systematically subjected
Palestinian women and girls to sexual violence, including forced nudity,
public stripping, sexualised torture and harassment.
The report concluded that these abuses form part of the "ISF [Israeli security forces'] operating procedures".
“These acts were intended to humiliate and degrade the victims and
the Palestinian community at large, by perpetuating gender stereotypes
that create a sense of shame, subordination, emasculation and
inferiority,” the report read.