RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza- Israel has recently intensified its attacks on the Palestinians in the West Bank; people have been subjected to violations at checkpoints and they have been deprived of their right to life. The ongoing Israeli attacks have forcibly displaced thousands of Palestinians. Last week, a 15-year-old Palestinian girl named Sadeel Naghniyeh was killed by Israeli fire. The two-day Israeli attacks on the Jenin refugee camp in the north of the occupied West Bank killed 12 Palestinians and injured 120 people.

‘Israel must be prosecuted’

Palestinian feminist activist Duaa al-Baz says that women and children in the West Bank, particularly in refugee camps, suffer from many rights violations; they are subjected to search at checkpoints, arrested and targeted by rubber bullets and poison gas. “On June 21, 15-year-old Palestinian girl named Sadeel Naghniyeh was shot in the head by the Israeli forces. A funeral ceremony was held for her in Jenin. Her schoolmates carried her coffin on their shoulders. Women and children are held in Israeli prisons and their right to life is violated. Israel must be prosecuted for their crimes against women and children.”

At the end of her speech, Duaa al-Baz called on the international community to protect Palestinian women and children.

‘Their right to life is violated’

Palestinian lawyer and feminist Rana Hudayb divides Israel's violations against Palestinian women into two parts. “There are direct violations against women. Now, 31 Palestinian women have been held in Israeli prisons and their right to life is violated in prison. There are also indirect violations against Palestinian women. Women are subjected to search, killed and arrested at checkpoints. The Israeli forces arrest the breadwinners of the families and women have to shoulder all burdens of their families. Women are denied access to natural resources such as water and electricity.”
Speaking about violations faced by women, she said, “Women are arrested at checkpoints and face false accusations. The situation in the West Bank prevents girls from going to school. Israeli forces have attempted to burn homes and vehicles while women and children were inside.”

'It keeps committing crimes against humanity’

Rana Hudayb also talked about the report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “According to the report, approximately 700 direct and indirect violations were committed against Palestinians. 176 people, including women and children, were killed in the first six months of 2023. Israel has violated the international conventions protecting women and children. The silence of the international community encourages Israel to commit more crimes against civilians. International human rights organizations should come here and document the crimes committed against Palestinians by Israel.”