home page
UN REPORT

Reasonable grounds to believe Hamas perpetrated sexual violence

“Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, was also gathered,” reads the 24-page UN report.

March 5, 2024, 8:10 am Edit
A military official at the forensic center at the Military Rabbinate's headquarters in Ramle stands in front of the remains of victims of Hamas's October 7 onslaught in Israel, October 13, 2023. (The Times of Israel: Nati Shohat/Flash90)
A military official at the forensic center at the Military Rabbinate's headquarters in Ramle stands in front of the remains of victims of Hamas's October 7 onslaught in Israel, October 13, 2023. (The Times of Israel: Nati Shohat/Flash90)

(THE TIMES OF ISRAEL) A team of United Nations experts reports that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” Hamas terrorists perpetrated sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, at several locations during the terror group’s October 7 onslaught on southern Israeli communities.

It also says it found clear and convincing information that Israeli hostages in Gaza have been subjected to sexual violence and that this may be continuing.

The team — led by UN special envoy for sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten — visited Israel between January 29 and February 14 on a mission intended to gather, analyze, and verify information on sexual violence linked to the October 7 attacks.

“Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, was also gathered,” reads the 24-page UN report.

Thousands of Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, mostly civilians, many during horrific acts of brutality.

“The mission team found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken to Gaza have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence and has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing,” the UN report says.

The team says a “fully-fledged investigation” will be required to establish the overall magnitude, scope, and specific attribution for the sexual violence.

The UN team says it also received information from institutional and civil society sources and direct interviews about “sexual violence against Palestinian men and women in [Israeli] detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints” after October 7.

The UN team adds that it raised the allegations with Israel’s Ministry of Justice and Military Advocate General, which said no complaints of sexual violence against members of the Israeli Defense Forces had been received.

read more:
comments