(Ottawa) Canada’s foreign minister announced funding Wednesday for Palestinian survivors of sexual violence – a move that immediately drew a rebuke from an Israeli official.
Mélanie Joly pledged $1 million for women in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, whom her office described as “survivors of sexual violence, whatever the circumstances.”
M’s officeme Joly would not specify whether Canada believed Israeli forces were committing sexual violence against women in Gaza, nor whether the funding related to domestic violence in the Palestinian territories.
Minister Joly made the announcement on the social media platform reversal of facts in matters of blood libel” which will fuel the rise of anti-Semitic sentiment.
Earlier this week, Minister Joly announced the same amount of money to support Israeli women victims of sexual violence at the hands of Hamas militants.
Last month, a United Nations panel of experts said it was distressed by unconfirmed reports that Palestinian women and girls detained in Israel had been victims of sexual assault.
The allegations included reports of rape and threats of sexual assault and strip searches by male Israeli soldiers. UN experts have said they want an impartial investigation into the allegations.
Minister Joly wrote on Wednesday: “we believe Palestinian women.”
“Allegations of gender-based sexual violence against them must be investigated and Palestinian women must be supported,” the minister wrote on X. Today, I announced in the West Bank that Canada committed $1 million to support this important work. »
It is unclear which organizations will receive the announced funding for women in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.