MANHATTAN: Nicholas Kristof in a column The Silence Meets the Rape of Palestinians , that appeared in 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. 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.”
Italian members of the European Parliament and human rights advocates have accused Israel of committing “crimes against humanity” following systematic sexual violence against Palestinian detainees detailed in a recent investigative report by New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof.
Danilo Della Valle, an Italian MEP from the European Parliament’s Left group, said the reported abuse in Israeli detention centers represented “systematic violence” rather than isolated misconduct.
“The systematic violence inflicted on Palestinians in Israeli detention centers constitutes crimes against humanity,” Della Valle said. “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.”
Della Valle criticized what he described as the EU’s failure to respond decisively to mounting reports of abuses.
“Despite credible investigations and reports documenting serious human rights violations, the EU’s continued silence and failure to take concrete action risks creating the impression of institutional
The findings were echoed by Claudio Francavilla of Human Rights Watch, who said the allegations are consistent with research carried out by his organization and other rights groups.
“The findings indicating widespread sexual violence in places where Palestinians are detained, and by individuals involved in these processes, are consistent with the research conducted by Human Rights Watch and other organizations on this issue,” Francavilla said.
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.
Investigation
In a column titled “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians,” columnist Nicholas Kristof said he interviewed 14 Palestinian men and women who described sexual assaults and other abuse during detention or attacks by Israeli forces and occupiers.
There is “no evidence that Israeli leaders ordered rapes,” but Kristof argued that Israeli authorities have built “a security apparatus where sexual violence has become,” citing a UN report, one of Israel’s “standard operating procedures.”
The article included testimonies from former detainees who alleged rape, beatings, threats of sexual violence, and humiliation during imprisonment.
Kristof cited reports by organizations, including Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Save the Children, B’Tselem, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, documenting allegations of sexual abuse and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.
He also referenced a 49-page UN report published last year that accused Israel of “systematically” subjecting Palestinians to “sexualized torture.”
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.
