Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli forces of publishing degrading photographs and videos of detained Palestinians, including children, in acts that amount to war crimes, Al Jazeera reports.

In many cases, detainees were stripped of their clothing, sometimes fully, then photographed or filmed, with the images published by Israeli soldiers, media outlets or activists, the group said.

Forced nudity followed by capturing and sharing sexualised images on social media is a form of sexual violence and also a war crime, it said.

“Israeli authorities have for months turned a blind eye as members of their military published dehumanizing fully or seminude images and videos of Palestinians in their custody,” said Balkees Jarrah, acting Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

“Senior officials and military commanders can be held criminally responsible for ordering these crimes, or for failing to prevent or punish them, including at the International Criminal Court.”