Justice requires accountability: “Discrimination against Palestinian women” under Israeli occupation

Participants in the event stressed that access to justice is a basic human right and a means to implement other human rights, noting that achieving justice requires going beyond temporary solutions, reaching real accountability and ending the occupation.

The event was entitled: “Discriminatory Laws and Policies Against Palestinian Women and Girls Under Israeli Occupation: Justice Demands Accountability,” I organized it United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Strengthening protection mechanisms against violence

Mona Al-Khalili, Palestinian Minister of Women’s Affairs, spoke at the beginning of the session, highlighting the grave and multi-faceted challenges facing Palestinian women in light of the ongoing conflict, emphasizing their resilience and the disproportionate burden they bear.

In a speech recorded via video, Al-Khalili described women as a fundamental pillar of Palestinian society, as they serve as caretakers, professionals, and human rights defenders. However, they suffer from double difficulties during crises.

She said that the Ministry of Women’s Affairs is working to promote legal reforms, strengthen protection mechanisms against gender-based violence, and develop national strategies in line with international frameworks, such as UN Security Council Resolution No. 1325 related to women, peace and security.

She concluded her speech by linking women’s rights to broader political goals, stressing that lasting progress depends on ending the occupation and realizing the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, with women playing a pivotal role in building a just and sustainable future.

The occupation and its impact on women’s access to justice

Ambassador Binda Nanda, Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations and Vice-Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, stressed the need to enhance justice and accountability for Palestinian women.

Discussing the theme of this year’s Commission on the Status of Women meeting – enhancing access to justice for women and girls – Nanda stressed that comprehensive legal systems and the removal of discriminatory laws are essential to achieving gender equality.

He highlighted the disproportionate impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian women, noting that “The structure and effects of occupation severely harm women, who do not have equal access to justice.”

He reviewed in detail a range of violations inflicted on Palestinian women – including “home demolitions, forced displacement, family separation, movement restrictions, and ill-treatment of female detainees.” He stressed that these practices not only undermine basic rights, but also deepen social and economic inequalities.

“Gaza Strip without justice”

Via video from Gaza, Ms. Amal Siam, Director of the Women’s Affairs Center in the Gaza Strip, spoke about the “collapse of justice” for Palestinian women in Gaza, explaining how war and occupation led to the dismantling of legal systems and stripping women of their most basic rights. She described a reality in which… “Gaza Strip without justice” Highlighting the almost complete collapse of judicial institutions amid continuing violence, displacement, and the humanitarian crisis.

She stressed that access to justice is inseparable from general living conditions, noting that the war not only destroyed infrastructure, but also destroyed the legal and institutional foundations necessary to protect rights.

She explained, “Courts have been razed to the ground, legal systems have been paralyzed, and women have no formal means of redress.” In this context, she confirmed that “Justice requires a fair legislative environment… free of fear, hunger and displacement.”

She concluded her speech by calling for international support to rebuild the legal system in Gaza, ensure accountability, and restore justice for Palestinian women as a cornerstone of recovery and human rights.

“Obstructing justice”

Via video from Haifa, Sawsan Zaher, a Palestinian human rights lawyer, spoke about the role of the Israeli Supreme Court in what she described as “obstructing reparations and providing impunity for Israeli war crimes.”

Ms. Sawsan Zaher criticized the Israeli legal system, noting that it “systematically obstructs justice and accountability for violations committed against Palestinians, especially women.”

She stressed that access to justice is essential to holding perpetrators accountable, but it remains largely elusive, she said. She pointed out that “Access to justice is an integral part of holding Israel accountable for the crimes it commits.” Emphasizing its importance in any effective legal process.

Reparations in the Palestinian context

Palestinian jurist, Lina Fatoum, presented a comprehensive framework for reparations in the Palestinian context, with a particular focus on their impact on women and the need to achieve gender-sensitive justice.

She explained that compensation goes beyond financial compensation to include multiple forms such as recovery, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. In cases where recovery is not possible, compensation and rehabilitation become crucial.

Lina Fatoum stressed that the violations in Palestine are both structural and individual, which requires broad solutions such as ending the occupation and restoring Palestinian sovereignty, in addition to individual compensation and support.

She highlighted the disproportionate impact on women and girls, noting that displacement, loss of property and economic hardship have all weakened women’s roles within families and communities. In some cases, women who were contributing economically – such as in rural or Bedouin communities – have lost their livelihoods and decision-making power.

Fatoum called for a comprehensive and participatory approach to achieving justice, noting that compensation must restore women’s rights to land, property, and economic independence.

The impact of conflict dynamics on women’s access to justice

For her part, Dr. Carol Daniel Caspary, an expert at the Carter Center in the United States of America, stressed the urgent need to integrate a gender perspective into the implementation of the ceasefire and reconstruction of Gaza.

Drawing on her more than 20 years of experience in conflict resolution, she highlights how political systems and conflict dynamics directly impact women’s access to justice, participation and long-term stability.

Caspary stressed that current political discussions about ceasefires and reconstruction often exclude Palestinian women, meaning they are most affected by the outcomes.

She warned that simply stopping violence does not dismantle underlying systems of control. Without addressing these issues, women will continue to face restrictions on access to health care, justice, and economic opportunities.

It proposed concrete measures, including ensuring women’s freedom of movement, establishing gender-sensitive monitoring mechanisms, protecting their housing and legal rights, and promoting their economic inclusion in reconstruction efforts. It also called for holding accountable countries whose policies may contribute to the continuation of discriminatory regimes.

She concluded her speech by saying: “A ceasefire that maintains existing systems of control is not peace, it is containment.”

It is noteworthy that the theme of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women this year is: “Ensure and promote access to justice for all women and girls, including by strengthening inclusive and fair legal systems, repealing discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing structural barriers.”