Israeli settlers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian in front of family

Israeli settlers sexually assaulted a Palestinian man during a raid on the community of Khirbet Humsa in the northern Jordan Valley, according to witness testimony cited by Haaretz, in an attack that survivors say also involved beatings, threats of rape, the humiliation of women and girls and the looting of livestock and valuables.

Testimonies from eyewitnesses showed that settlers split into small groups and moved through the community, dragging residents from their homes, binding their hands and feet with zip ties and throwing men, women and children onto the ground. Some victims were doused with cold water while restrained and beaten with clubs and knives visible.

One woman said the attackers tore off her head covering, ripped some of her clothes and pulled girls from the tents before beating them, including young children. Another resident said settlers cut him above the wrist with a knife before binding him.

The most serious allegation concerns the sexual assault of a Palestinian man in front of his family. An American activist present in the village said that settlers pulled down the man’s trousers, poured water over him and beat him brutally while he lay curled up on the ground unable to defend himself.

Witnesses also said settlers threatened to rape women and kill children. Residents told Haaretz that one attacker, who spoke Arabic, warned that if the community did not leave, the settlers would return, burn the homes, kill the children and rape the women.

One mother said that while she was bound, a settler threatened to come back and take her daughters, then grabbed and slapped her 14-year-old daughter in front of her. Survivors said obscene and degrading language was used throughout the attack.

Two foreign activists volunteering as part of a protective presence programme were also assaulted, according to the testimonies. One said masked settlers beat the activists to the ground, zip-tied their hands and feet, stole wallets and passports and dragged them outside while continuing to hit them.

The same activist said she feared she too was about to be raped after one settler cut open her jacket with a knife and began tugging at her belt. She said children in the community were forced to witness much of the violence.

The attack took place in a part of the illegally occupied West Bank where Palestinian herding communities have long faced repeated settler violence, displacement and land seizures. Khirbet Humsa’s residents were previously driven from nearby land after Israeli demolitions and expulsions linked to a military firing zone.

Forty-five per cent of land in the Jordan Valley has been declared a firing zone, sharply reducing Palestinian grazing space.

The allegations from Khirbet Humsa fit a broder trend related to sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces and settlers. B’Tselem found that Palestinians in Hebron were subjected to “routine” physical and sexual violence by Israeli soldiers, including threats of rape, forced undressing and blows to the genitals.

Gaza detainees described rape, electric shocks and other abuse in Israeli detention facilities, including Sde Teiman.