United Nations Report Finds Evidence of Sexual Violence During Hamas-Led Attack on Israel
A recent United Nations report has shed light on the disturbing findings of sexual violence committed during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. The report, released on Monday, revealed signs of rape and sexual torture in multiple locations, including the Nova music festival site, Road 232, and Kibbutz Re’im.
The team of experts deployed by the United Nations, led by Pramila Patten, the secretary-general’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict, found “reasonable grounds” to believe that sexual violence occurred during the attack. The report detailed incidents of rape, gang rape, and even the rape of women’s corpses.
The report also highlighted allegations of sexual abuse against Palestinians detained by Israel and the sexual violence inflicted on hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The experts found “clear and convincing information” that women and children were subjected to rape, sexualized torture, and cruel treatment during their captivity.
Israel welcomed the report for recognizing the pattern of rape, torture, and sexual abuse committed during the attack. However, the report also mentioned challenges in verifying reports of sexual violence in certain locations due to the lack of forensic evidence and the large number of casualties.
The U.N. team called for further investigations into the allegations of sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli security forces and settlers. The report emphasized the importance of providing support, justice, and accountability to the victims and survivors of sexual violence.
Overall, the report highlighted the complexity of investigating sexual violence in conflict zones and the need for thorough and independent investigations to uncover the true prevalence of such atrocities.
