Khirbet Humsa, West Bank
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Dozens of masked Israeli settlers stormed into Qusai Abu al-Kebash’s small village final weekend in the midst of the evening.
They grabbed Abu al-Kebash, sure him by his palms and legs and stripped him. He says they then zip-tied his genitals and paraded him by means of his neighborhood whereas beating him.
Israeli settlers have more and more used violence against Palestinians in a bid to drive them from their houses within the occupied West Bank. But sexual assault seems to be a brand new weapon in these settlers’ arsenal of intimidation, pointing to a troubling new stage of violence.
“They cut my belt off with a knife, as well as my boxers. They zip-tied my penis, tightened it and then dragged me all around the village,” Abu al-Kebash stated, chatting with NCS in his first on-camera interview.
“It was very, very painful. … I thought they were going to kill me.”
The 29-year-old continued: “I felt humiliated and insulted. Why would they do that to us? Why do they tie someone up like that?”
Several members of Abu al-Kebash’s household who have been current on the time corroborated his account. So did two international activists — volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement — who advised NCS additionally they witnessed Abu al-Kebash being sexually assaulted.
Israeli authorities stated they have been investigating the alleged assault and settlers’ alleged theft of tons of of Abu al-Kebash’s sheep, and on Thursday, advised NCS that “seven suspects were arrested several days ago on suspicion of involvement in the incident.” Police additionally stated they have been beneath “a court-issued gag order,” as a part of the investigation.
“The investigation is ongoing, led by the Israel Police in cooperation with security forces,” Israeli police stated of their assertion. “The Israel Police strongly condemns acts of violence and crime and will continue to operate to ensure the safety of residents and maintain public order in the area.”
Al-Kebash stated police and investigators from the Shin Bet inside safety service got here to his village within the days following the incident and that he went to a police station to present his testimony.
Abu al-Kebash stated he hasn’t been in a position to sleep since. His left eye stays bruised and bloody.
“I’m worried they’ll come back, that they’ll kill us in the middle of the night or burn our village like they said they would,” he stated.
Settlers have sought to intimidate Abu al-Kebash and his household earlier than, however not like this, he advised NCS.
He stated his spouse, cousins and father have been additionally zip-tied and overwhelmed that very same evening. He recounted that the settlers poured water and grime on them and threatened to rape the ladies, Abu al-Kebash and his relations stated. Settlers even hit the kids, he stated. Two international anti-occupation activists, who spoke to NCS on the situation of anonymity as a result of they worry reprisals, stated they have been additionally sure and threatened.
The shepherd stated he hopes police will deliver his assailants to justice and return the sheep which can be his livelihood.
But Palestinians have largely misplaced religion in Israeli investigations into settler violence, with few ever leading to arrests, not to mention convictions. Instead, Palestinians and anti-occupation activists describe a tradition of impunity that pervades the Israeli settler neighborhood, with Israeli troopers at instances standing by as settlers intimidate, harass and even assault Palestinians.
Israel has considerably escalated army actions within the occupied West Bank since 2023 because the right-wing authorities of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed to extend Jewish settlements and entrench Israel’s grip on the land, with the aim of stopping the institution of a Palestinian state.
Israeli settlement within the West Bank is taken into account unlawful beneath worldwide legislation.
Israeli settlers have additionally ramped up assaults on Palestinians and their properties, a near-daily incidence. Violence has spiked as soon as once more amid the struggle with Iran. Nine Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troopers or settlers within the West Bank and East Jerusalem for the reason that struggle started, in line with the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has accused Israel of utilizing the “cover of war with Iran” to speed up additional what it describes because the “ethnic cleansing” of the West Bank.
Despite the dangers, Abu al-Kebash stated he felt it was vital to share his story.
“I’m sharing my story in its entirety so people can see — so the world can see what’s happening. We haven’t done anything to them, and yet they came and beat us and did this to us,” the shepherd stated. “That is why I have the courage to speak.”
This story has been up to date with further developments.