Israel’s Right to Rape: A Tyranny of Sexual Violence and Oppression

The recent revelations of horrific sexual violence committed by Israeli soldiers against Palestinian detainees paint a damning picture of Israel as a tyrannical force that has institutionalized the brutal subjugation of a people. The case of a Palestinian detainee who was gang-raped by nine to ten Israeli soldiers at the Sde Teiman detention facility is a stark example of the depravity sanctioned by the state. This barbaric act, which led to the victim’s paralysis and critical condition, underscores a broader pattern of systematic abuse and dehumanization that has long been a tool of Israeli oppression.

The violent attack on the Beit Lid military base by right-wing Israeli settlers and political activists, aimed at preventing the prosecution of these soldiers, exposes the depths of moral decay within Israeli society. Settlers, some masked and armed, breached the base, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the rule of law and a perverse endorsement of sexual violence as a legitimate act of war. This mob, emboldened by the support of high-ranking political figures such as ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, reflects an alarming normalization of sexual violence against Palestinians as an accepted, even celebrated, tactic.

Israel’s state apparatus has, over decades, cultivated an environment where rape and other forms of sexual violence are weaponized against Palestinians. Since 1948, Palestinians of all ages and genders have been subjected to abduction, torture, and sexual assault by Israeli forces in what can only be described as a state-sponsored campaign of terror. Facilities like Sde Teiman, likened to a “New Guantanamo,” serve as grim reminders of the inhumane conditions Palestinians endure. The international community has repeatedly heard testimonies of Palestinians stripped naked, tortured, and sexually assaulted, often with their families forced to witness these atrocities.

The involvement of political leaders in defending these heinous acts is a damning indictment of Israel’s leadership. Statements by figures like Ben-Gvir, who called the rapists “Israel’s best heroes,” and Smotrich, who asserted that these soldiers deserve respect and must not be treated as criminals, illustrate a shocking endorsement of sexual violence as a tool of oppression. These leaders, instead of condemning the crimes, have framed them as acts of patriotism, further entrenching a culture of impunity.

This culture of impunity is not an aberration but a deliberate policy. The Israeli army’s decision to suspend critical security discussions to address the right-wing mob’s actions highlights a prioritization of protecting soldiers over pursuing justice. The outcry from within Israel, including Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi’s condemnation of the riots, is overshadowed by the systemic failure to hold perpetrators accountable. This failure extends to the highest levels of government, where Prime Minister Netanyahu’s inability to control extremist elements within his administration has led to a governance crisis that emboldens further abuses.

The international community must confront the reality that Israel’s occupation is not merely a political conflict but a deeply rooted system of oppression that employs rape as a weapon of war. Global media and human rights organizations have documented the widespread use of sexual violence by Israeli forces, yet the world’s response has been tepid at best. The normalization of such atrocities demands a concerted and unequivocal condemnation and action from the global community.

Israel’s systematic use of sexual violence against Palestinians is a testament to its tyrannical nature. It reveals a state apparatus that dehumanizes and brutalizes a people with impunity. The stories of countless Palestinian men, women, and children who have suffered in Israeli prisons are a clarion call for justice. As the world bears witness to these crimes, it must recognize Israel not as a democracy but as a state that endorses and perpetuates terror through sexual violence. It is incumbent upon the international community to demand accountability, support the victims, and work tirelessly to end the occupation that allows such egregious human rights violations to continue.