"Sexual violence and deliberate harassment have become increasingly common in the occupied West Bank, perpetrated by Israeli soldiers and settlers. According to observers, these acts are no longer isolated incidents but rather systematic tools used by Israel to pressure Palestinians and force them to leave their homes.

On March 13, in the middle of the night, more than 70 settlers attacked Khirbet Hamsa al-Fawqa.

Qusay told Al Jazeera that the settlers divided themselves into groups to attack the Palestinian tents. Five of the settlers attacked his tent – where he had been asleep – and began beating him severely with their hands and sticks. They also assaulted two foreign female activists who were sleeping in the same tent.

“The settlers then forcibly removed my pants while tying my hands and feet, binding my body with my belt, and stripping me of my underwear,” Qusay said. He recounted that the settlers then beat his genitals, tied his limbs and genitals with plastic zip ties, and humiliated him, before threatening to repeat the assault if he did not leave the area.

The assault on Qusay and all the residents of the area lasted for approximately 45 minutes. During that time, many residents, including children, reported being beaten, and said they were threatened with death if they didn’t leave immediately. The settlers also stole hundreds of livestock.

At the end of the assault, Qusay said that the settlers dragged him along the ground without his underwear and severely beat him all over his body, including his eye, which later became swollen."

aljazeera.com/features/2026/4/…

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Sexual violence in the West Bank emerges as tool to intimidate Palestinians

Systematic sexual violence and harassment by Israeli soldiers, settlers displacing Palestinians in occupied West Bank.

^{Fayha Shalash (Al Jazeera)}