Gaza Herald _The United Nations has reported ongoing and systematic patterns of rape and sexual violence in conflict zones around the world, naming Israeli forces and security bodies among those implicated in documented abuses.
Presenting the annual UN report on conflict-related sexual violence in New York, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, stressed that the report covers 21 countries affected by armed conflict and focuses primarily on survivors whose bodies, futures, and lives have been deeply harmed by such crimes.
Patten said the United Nations verified 31 cases of sexual assault during 2025 involving Palestinian men, women, girls, and children inside Israeli detention facilities and at military checkpoints.
She added that sexual violence against Palestinians was used as part of broader practices of torture and humiliation. According to the report, the incidents involved Israeli security forces, the Israeli military, and specialized units, including the elite counterterrorism unit known as Yamam.
The documented cases reportedly occurred during arrest operations, interrogations, and detention in Israeli military camps and detention sites.
Patten further stated that many survivors faced threats and intimidation that discouraged reporting, creating conditions described as near-total impunity. She noted that UN monitoring efforts continue to face major restrictions in Gaza and that access challenges remain significant, including limitations on humanitarian and international monitoring mechanisms.
The UN official said she had urged Israeli authorities during her visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to immediately implement preventive measures adopted by the UN Security Council. However, she said Israel rejected the findings and dismissed the report’s conclusions.
Patten emphasized that the documented incidents should not be treated as isolated cases but as part of a broader and recurring pattern requiring an international response aimed at protecting civilians and ensuring accountability while safeguarding the dignity of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
