Palestinian organizations launch campaign on sexual violence in Israeli detention

Ramallah – 14 July 2026: Palestinian prisoner organizations and former detainees have launched an international campaign in Ramallah against sexual violence in Israeli custody. The organizers want to document the testimonies of those affected, facilitate legal assistance, and promote investigations. The initiative responds to accounts by former detainees of assaults during interrogations and periods of detention. The allegations concern facilities of the Israeli military, police, and prison system.

According to the organizers, several Palestinian human rights and prisoner associations are participating in the initiative. They demand an end to impunity and the conduct of independent investigations. For the time being, the campaign pursues a documentary and political goal: individual testimonies are to be systematically preserved and made available to international institutions. On Tuesday, the organizers did not present a total number of alleged victims that could be publicly verified.

However, the allegations are not isolated. The UN Secretary-General’s most recent annual report on conflict-related sexual violence states that the United Nations verified several cases of sexualized violence against Palestinian men, women, and minors in 2025. According to the report, the violations occurred mainly during detention and interrogations. Military camps, prisons in the Israeli prison system, and a police station are mentioned.

The UN documented violence against 14 men, seven women, nine boys, and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. These figures refer to verified individual cases and do not allow for a direct conclusion about the total scale of possible assaults. At the same time, the report notes that those affected are often unable to speak about the abuse because of threats, lack of access to legal assistance, and the particular situation of dependence during detention.

Israel has repeatedly rejected similar allegations, calling them unfounded or politically motivated. In previous statements, the Israel Prison Service said that detainees are treated and receive medical care in accordance with applicable law. In March 2026, Israeli military justice closed proceedings against five soldiers accused of abusing a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military camp. The UN Special Rapporteur on torture subsequently demanded clarification regarding this decision.

Under international law, torture, rape, and any other form of sexual violence against detained persons are prohibited without exception. The political outcome of the new campaign will therefore depend on whether, in addition to testimonies, it succeeds in securing solid evidence and whether Israeli authorities, international organizations, and courts can examine the allegations independently. The case also concerns a central issue of the Gaza war: oversight of detention conditions in a conflict in which both sides accuse each other of serious violations of international humanitarian law.