Palestinian women face 'sexual harassment' by Israeli soldiers in Hebron

Palestinian women in Hebron, occupied West Bank, have faced increasing sexual harassment by Israeli soldiers at checkpoints, according to testimonies reported by Haaretz.

The Israel-based publication said the soldiers' actions include taking "photos of young women, going through their phones, and subjecting them to verbal abuse".

"Since metal detectors were installed after October 7, women have been forced to remove clothing, including hijabs, in some cases," it added.

A UN report in June found that Israeli authorities have systematically subjected Palestinian women and girls to sexual violence, including forced nudity, public stripping, sexualised torture, and harassment.

"These acts were intended to humiliate and degrade the victims and the Palestinian community at large, by perpetuating gender stereotypes that create a sense of shame, subordination, emasculation, and inferiority," the report stated.

A young Palestinian woman shared her distressing ordeal with Haaretz, describing how a soldier at the Tamar checkpoint sexually harassed her.

She revealed a soldier asked her to open her bag and then lowered his trousers and said: "Do you want it? Come and see." 

"Out of shock, I left the checkpoint and didn't know what was happening, I felt as if someone had given me a slap," she said while talking to Haaretz.