Israeli sexual violence helping push Palestinians from West Bank: Report

Sexual violence and other forms of gender-based abuse committed by Israeli settlers and soldiers are helping to force Palestinians to leave the occupied West Bank, according to a report.

Researchers from the West Bank Protection Consortium detailed at least 16 cases of conflict-related sexual violence attributed to Israeli settlers and soldiers, according to the report: Sexual Violence And Forcible Transfer In The West Bank: How The Exploitation Of Gender Dynamics Drives Displacement, which was released on Monday.
“The evidence shows how sexualised violence is used to pressure communities, shape decisions about remaining or leaving their homes and land, and alter patterns of daily life,” the report said.

The researchers found that incidents of “sexualised harassment, intimidation and humiliation have intensified,” and warn that the real number of attacks likely remains underreported.
The West Bank Protection Consortium is a partnership of a number of international humanitarian organisations.

The report is based on interviews with 83 Palestinians from across 10 communities in the Jordan Valley, the South Hebron Hills and the central West Bank.

Researchers found that more than 70 percent of the displaced people interviewed said that threats to women and children, particularly sexualised violence, were the decisive reasons for leaving their homes.

“In response, families adopt gendered protective strategies, including the partial transfer of women and children and recourse to early marriage, in an effort to reduce exposure to harm,” the text explains.