MANHATTAN: Nicholas Kristof in a column The Silence Meets the Rape of Palestinians, that appeared in the Monday (11th May, 2026) issue of The New York Times presented his findings following interviews of fourteen men and women who were sexually abused during incarceration and attacks by Israeli settlers.
In his column Kristof also cited UN report that was published in 2025. According to that Israelis subject Palestinian men, women and children to sexualized torture. Danilo Della Valle, from European Parliament’s Left group, asserted that the sexual abuse at Israeli detention centers were not isolated misconduct.
“The systematic violence inflicted on Palestinians in Israeli detention centers constitutes crimes against humanity…The latest investigation published by Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times clearly demonstrates in detail that these are not isolated incidents or individual abuses.” He lamented EU’s failure to respond decisively to mounting reports of abuses.
Taking to the X Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Following the publication by Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times of one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press, which also received the backing of the newspaper.”
Claudio Francavilla of Human Rights Watch, said the allegations are consistent with research carried out by his organization and other rights groups.He called for urgent international oversight of Israeli detention facilities, saying it is “vital” that credible investigations take place and that those responsible be brought to justice.
Francavilla also urged immediate access for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and independent observers to all detention centers.
“We have repeatedly called on the EU and member states to take concrete measures that would pressure Israeli authorities to end ongoing serious human rights and violations of the laws of war, and to ensure accountability,” he said.
Newspakistan.tv
M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career forty-five years ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.
