Statement

The State of Palestine invites the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, and its technical team, to conduct an active visit to Palestine. Ms. Patten is invited to meet with Palestinian victims, as per her mandate, as well as to gather, analyze, and verify information on Israel’s well-documented sexual violence against Palestinian women, men, and children detainees and disappeared persons.  

The State of Palestine is committed to the law and applauds Ms. Patten’s recommendation for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry  (COI) to investigate sexual violence in Israel and Palestine. The State of Palestine reminds that the COI the mandate to investigate all violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights laws leading up to and since 13 April 2021. It is also mandated  to study all underlying root causes  of  grave violations of international law in both the State of Palestine and Israel, with the view of ending impunity and ensuring justice. 

The State of Palestine recalls that COI already reported on Israeli occupying forces committing sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian women and called for accountability. 

The Security Council and the Secretary General must demand that Israel immediately comply with the recommendations of the Special Representative and grant access to the members of the COI as well cooperate to ensure an objective, impartial, and independent investigation into this grave matter.