A new article in The BMJ documents sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians, including children. The article was published on Tuesday. It was written by five authors. One is Dr. Rubin Minhas. He said the accounts are haunting. The article cites a 2025 Save the Children report. It says more than half of 165 Palestinian children aged 12 to 17 in Israeli detention saw or experienced sexual violence. This includes rape threats, forced stripping, and genital assault. A 2026 UN investigation also found sexual violence against Palestinian children during arrest and detention. One boy was stripped and urinated on. The UN Commission of Inquiry found that sexual violence is part of standard operating procedures of Israeli forces. And it was done with orders or encouragement from senior Israeli leaders. The article also documents sexual violence against women at checkpoints, in detention, and during raids. Women were forced to undress, touched sexually, and threatened with rape. Israeli occupiers in the West Bank also use sexual violence to intimidate Palestinians. Fear of this violence stops women from working and girls from going to school. The article says impunity is high. From 2017 to 2021, only 0.87% of cases against Israeli soldiers led to indictment. The authors demand independent investigators get access to detention sites.
