The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London handed over a briefing to UN Missions and British MPs entitled “torture, sexual violence, and human rights violations against Palestinians from Gaza”.

The briefing said that Palestinians have reported being subjected to severe punishment and beatings, being caged with attack dogs, and suffering sexual assault.

“Physical evidence - such as broken ribs, dislocated shoulders, bite marks, and burns - was still visible many weeks later after being released from imprisonment.”

Citing a UN investigation, the briefing said Palestinian women and girls have reportedly been arbitrarily executed in Gaza, often together with family members, including their children.

It quoted UN experts as expressing their extreme shock at reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces.

The document added that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence.

PRC called on UN Member States to condemn inhumane practices of Israeli forces against Palestinians from Gaza and to immediately take actions to pressure Israel such as economic sanctions, arm embargoes and diplomatic protest to bring to an end the Israeli aggression on Palestinians.