Israeli soldiers and settlers are using gendered violence and sexual assault to force Palestinians from their homes in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the West Bank Protection Consortium. The study documents 16 cases of conflict-related sexual violence over the past three years, though researchers say the true figure is likely higher due to stigma.
The report details incidents including forced nudity, invasive body cavity searches, exposure of genitals to minors, and threats of sexual violence. In one case, a woman was subjected to a painful internal search by female soldiers who entered her home with settlers. Men and boys have also been targeted, with one man stripped and having a zip tie placed on his genitals by settlers.
Sexualised attacks are accelerating displacement, with over two-thirds of surveyed households citing rising violence against women and children as a tipping point in their decision to leave. Girls have quit school and women stopped working to avoid contact with Israelis who might assault them. The report also links the violence to a rise in early marriage, with at least six families arranging weddings for girls aged 15–17.
The Ramallah-based Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) has documented similar abuses, including forced penetration during searches and soldiers exposing themselves at checkpoints. Kifaya Khraim, WCLAC advocacy unit manager, said: 'Girls aren’t going to schools, and you see early, forced marriages. These are minors, but we know their mothers and fathers are trying to protect them by sending them out of the area.'
