Palestinian women have been sexually assaulted by Israeli soldiers throughout the past 75 years, but researchers say they are only beginning to speak out about their experiences as incidents have mounted since the 7 October attacks.

The cases are so similar, despite happening in different locations and involving different branches of the Israeli military and police, that those documenting them suspect a directive has been handed down.

“You hear these women being sexually assaulted and strip-searched and beaten on their genitals in the West Bank, in Jerusalem and in Gaza, being treated by different bodies of the Israeli system but also being sexually assaulted in the same way,” Kefaya Khraim told Middle East Eye.

It wasn’t always the case that Khraim and her colleague, Amal Abusrour, who both work at the Ramallah-based Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling and spoke at length with MEE during a recent visit to London, would hear so many stories.

For decades, many Palestinian women have kept sexual violence they’ve experienced at the hands of Israeli soldiers to themselves, not even sharing it with their closest friends or family.