'Fear Is Unbearable': Israel Using Sexual Assault To Force Palestinians Out Of West Bank

Last Updated:April 21, 2026, 19:39 IST

Among the testimonies cited was that of a woman who said she was subjected to a painful internal search by female soldiers after settlers entered her home. 

A new report by humanitarian organisations alleged that sexual violence, harassment and humiliation are being used against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as a means of forcing communities from their homes. The study, titled Sexual Violence and Forcible Transfer in the West Bank, was released by the West Bank Protection Consortium, a group of international humanitarian organisations. It documents testimonies from Palestinians who reported abuse by Israeli soldiers and settlers over the past three years.

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Researchers said the violence described included sexual assault, forced nudity, invasive body searches, threats of rape, exposure of genitals and public humiliation.

What Report Found On Palestine

The consortium said it recorded 16 cases of conflict-related sexual violence over the last three years but warned the real number is likely far higher because of stigma and fear around reporting such abuse. The report noted, “Sexualised violence is used to pressure communities, shape decisions about remaining or leaving their homes and land, and alter patterns of daily life."

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Based on 83 interviews across the West Bank, researchers said more than two-thirds of households surveyed identified rising violence against women and children, including sexual harassment targeting girls, as a key factor in deciding to leave. The report added that many families described sexualised harassment as the moment fear became “unbearable".

What Testimonies Were Given In The Report

Among the testimonies cited was that of a woman who said she was subjected to a painful internal search by female soldiers after settlers entered her home. Another case described 29-year-old Qusai Abu al-Kebash from Khirbet Humsa, who witnesses said was stripped, assaulted and beaten by settlers in front of community members and international activists.

The report also referred to an October 2023 incident in Wadi as-Seeq, where Palestinians were allegedly stripped, beaten, urinated on and photographed naked. The identities of those interviewed were withheld because of the sensitivity of the allegations.

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‘Girls Not Going To Schools, Women Leaving Jobs’

Researchers said the effects extended beyond direct victims as girls had stopped attending school out of fear of harassment at checkpoints or near settlements. Women were said to have left jobs because travel had become unsafe. The report also found cases of early marriage, with some families arranging marriages for girls aged 15 to 17 in hopes of moving them away from areas seen as dangerous.

The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling, based in Ramallah, said it had separately documented similar patterns of abuse and intimidation.

News world 'Fear Is Unbearable': Israel Using Sexual Assault To Force Palestinians Out Of West Bank

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