GENEVA: During a series of United Nations hearings this week, Palestinians shared harrowing accounts of alleged sexual abuse and torture in Israeli detention facilities and by settlers.

These testimonies were presented to the UN’s independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Said Abdel Fattah, a 28-year-old nurse, provided a video-link testimony from Gaza.

He described his detention in November 2023 near Al Shifa hospital, detailing brutal treatment, which included physical violence, threats of sexual assault, and psychological torture throughout two months of detention.

Fattah claimed he had been subjected to severe beatings, including repeated assaults on his genitals during interrogations, leading to extensive injuries.

“I felt like my soul (left) my body,” he stated, reflecting the trauma experienced during his time in custody.

His testimony was part of a focused session on claims of 'sexual and reproductive violence' against Palestinians by Israeli forces and settlers since the escalation of conflict following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

The COI hearings, described by some as vital for amplifying victim voices, have been met with sharp criticism from Israeli officials.

Daniel Meron, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, rejected the testimonies as unfounded claims, asserting that Israel investigates and holds accountable any violations of law by its security forces.

Testimonies gathered during the hearings suggested a disturbing pattern of sexual violence allegedly directed at Palestinians in various contexts, including checkpoints and detention facilities.

Following the escalation of hostilities, experts argued that there has been an increase in reports of systematic abuse.

Sahar Francis, a Palestinian lawyer, highlighted concerns regarding a lack of accountability, asserting that the actions described have become a pervasive practice.

She noted that detainees from Gaza reported being subjected to degrading treatment, including strip searches that violated their dignity.

In addition to Fattah’s testimony, Mohamed Matar from the West Bank relayed his experience of abuse at the hands of settlers and Israeli security agents after attempting to protect a Bedouin community from settler violence.

Matar described a brutal encounter during which he, along with other activists, was captured, stripped, and subjected to prolonged physical and psychological abuse over the course of hours.

Photographs taken during the incident showed Matar and others in degrading conditions and with significant bodily harm, serving as visual evidence of their accounts.

Matar spoke of enduring psychological trauma since the event, revealing the deep impact of such violence.

Amid these testimonies, Chris Sidoti, a member of the COI, emphasized the significance of allowing victims to share their stories, advocating for their right to be heard in international forums.

The human rights implications of these testimonies are being closely monitored, underscoring the gravity of the situation amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.