Ramallah: Palestine on Saturday urged the international community to take responsibility for safeguarding Palestinian women and affirm their right to live in safety and peace. This call to action was emphasized in a statement made by the Foreign Ministry on International Women's Day.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry highlighted the plight of Palestinian women, stating that they are at the forefront of the struggle for survival, enduring the severe impacts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and attempts at forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. The ministry's statement underscored the devastating human toll, noting that over 519 days of conflict in Gaza have led to the deaths of more than 12,298 women, with thousands more facing forced displacement.
The statement further revealed that 21 Palestinian women are currently incarcerated under harsh conditions in Israeli prisons, where they suffer from torture, solitary confinement, and medical neglect. The ministry condemned these acts and criticized Israel for obstructing humanitarian aid, which is crucial for women and girls, thereby worsening their suffering amid ongoing genocide.
In response to these challenges, the ministry called for international committees to conduct thorough investigations into the systematic violence against Palestinian women and to hold Israel accountable for its actions, including settler terrorism. The appeal comes in the wake of Israel's decision to halt humanitarian aid entry into Gaza on March 2, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to commence negotiations on the next phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas.
The existing ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, effective since January 19, has temporarily halted the conflict that resulted in over 48,400 Palestinian deaths, predominantly affecting women and children, and left Gaza devastated. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.