Urgent Appeal to stop the ongoing Israeli Genocide and Sexual Violence in Gaza
By MIFTAH
March 26, 2024

This is an urgent and repeated appeal to the world to immediately intervene, in light of the recent stories of rape and sexual violence against Palestinian women by Israeli occupation forces during Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Palestinian women are being displaced, tortured, killed and forcibly disappeared, while the world sits idle. Silence and inaction in the wake of these horrifying crimes amount to complicity.

Over the past few days, more horrifying testimonies and stories have emerged from Gaza of sadistic acts by Israeli soldiers, including torture, rape, and mass field executions at hospitals where civilians are seeking shelter, medical treatment and refuge.

Palestinian civil society and UN experts have sounded the alarm multiple times and reported cases of rape and sexual violence before and during this genocide. These reports continue to be deliberately and inexcusably ignored, including by prominent and otherwise vocal feminist organizations and figures.

The deafening silence of “Western” feminists and mainstream media in particular is deliberate and inexcusable, as opposed to their earlier outrage over Israeli allegations and misinformation, used to justify this genocide.

Many Palestinian women and girls who are survivors of rape and sexual violence are hesitant to come forward, due to the social stigma in a conservative society and the belief that Israel will not be held accountable for such crimes.

Israel is committing the most horrific war crimes, and weaponizing rape and sexual violence against Palestinians as part of its genocide in Gaza and assault on the Palestinian people as a whole, throughout all of Palestine. This is the result of decades of impunity, preferential treatment and lack of international accountability by the international community. Words are not enough to describe or stop this horror; action is needed.

We conclude this SOS appeal by reminding our sisters and allies around the world that our rights, our dignity, and our humanity are indivisible. Forsaking Palestinian victims now for political convenience would be an unforgivable betrayal to decades of sacrifice and feminist struggle.

We call for:

  • The international community must employ all available tools of international accountability, including political and economic sanctions, to bring an immediate and lasting ceasefire and provision of unconditional humanitarian aid.

  • States must immediately impose an arms embargo on Israel and honor their moral and legal obligations, including those pronounced in the Genocide Convention.

  • States need to investigate and prosecute Israeli soldiers with dual citizenship implicated in these atrocities.

  • The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict must honor her mandate and launch an immediate investigation into the ongoing atrocities.

  • Feminists around the world must sound the alarm globally on the unspeakable human rights violations taking place in Gaza, namely the sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian women and girls.

  • Journalists and media outlets must do their due diligence in reporting on these stories through fair and unbiased coverage.

Signatories:

  1. American Federation of Ramallah Palestine
  2. Association of women’s Action
  3. AWMR Italia - Donne della Regione Mediterranea
  4. Bisan Center for Research and Development
  5. Community Development and Media Center
  6. Cultura è libertà una campagna per la Palestina
  7. Enjaz Foundation for development
  8. Filastiniyat
  9. Human Rights and Democracy Media Center SHAMS
  10. Institute of Women's Studies
  11. Not to forget women society
  12. Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)
  13. Palestinian Women's Action committee
  14. Rete Femminista Marche Molto+di194
  15. Rural Women Development Society
  16. Sinal do Vale
  17. Singola
  18. Teaching Palestine: Pedagogical Praxis and the Indivisibility of Justice
  19. The center for defense of liberties and civil rights “Hurryyat”
  20. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy - MIFTAH
  21. The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development-PWWSD
  22. The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in Southwest Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA)
  23. Union of Palestinian Women Committees
  24. Wattan media network
  25. Women Media and Development
  26. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
  27. رابطة المرأة العراقية
  28. شبكة المستقبل الديمقراطية العراقية

http://www.miftah.org