Israeli soldiers were seen playing with the underwear of Gaza women in online posts: report
Palestinian supporters have allegedly been indignant at Israeli troops’ sharing of pictures and videos of themselves playing with underwear discovered in Gazan homes in the midst of the devastating conflict.
In a widely shared video, an Israeli soldier can be seen sitting in an armchair in a room, smiling, while holding a rifle in one hand and hanging white satin underpants over the mouth of a friend who is reclining on a couch with the other. According to media sources, the video taken by Israeli forces is one of many videos that show military in Gaza flaunting mannequins and underwear.
Reporter Younis Tirawi, who identifies as Palestinian, shared the skimpy photos. Then, eight that were uploaded on YouTube or Instagram were confirmed by news agency Reuters. “Publishing pictures like these denigrates Palestinian women and women in general,” said UN Human Rights Office spokesman Ravina Shamdasani.
The Israel Defense Forces was contacted by the UK-based news agency with information on the eight confirmed postings on YouTube or Instagram, asking for a response. A spokesman replied with a statement stating that the IDF looks into allegations of recordings posted on social media platforms as well as instances when troops don’t follow commands or exhibit desired values.
According to the statement, “the Military Police opens investigations when suspicion of criminal offenses arises and justifies doing so.” According to the statement, “it should be clarified that in some of the examined cases, it is concluded that the soldiers’ expression or behavior in the video is inappropriate, and it is handled accordingly.”
According to reports, the Israeli military would not comment on whether it was alluding to any of the unsettling photos or if any of the troops involved had received disciplinary action. These offensive posts are being made at a time when Israel and Hamas are both being charged with serious war crimes. This month, a group of UN specialists said that there were good reasons to think that sexual assault, including rapes and gang rapes, took place at many sites during Hamas’ October 7 attack.
The UN specialists said that there was strong evidence of sexual abuse against some of the Israeli captives who had been sent to Gaza, abuse that could still be occurring. Israel is charged with driving Gaza closer to starvation. In its most recent report, the UN specialists team also said that it had firsthand interviews in the West Bank and evidence of sexual assault against Palestinians perpetrated by the IDF, as well as information from institutional and civil society sources.
