UN Experts Suggest Sexual Violence and Mass Rape Occurred During Hamas Assault
United Nations experts have suggested with strong foundations that acts of sexual violence and mass rape took place during the Islamist militant group Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, according to a report released on Monday by a team of UN specialists.
The team, led by Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, visited Israel between January 29th and February 14th to collect data and evaluate and verify reports of sexual violence.
The 24-page UN report states, "Credible indirect information was also collected which could point towards certain forms of sexual violence, including mutilation of genitalia, sexual torture, or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment." The report further notes, "The delegation found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken to the Gaza Strip were subjected to sexual violence, making it plausible that such acts of violence are continuing."
The expert group emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation to assess the extent of the committed sexual violence acts.
Experts also reported examining cases of sexual violence committed against Palestinian men and women in custody, during house searches and at checkpoints. For this purpose, they relied not only on institutional and civil organization sources, but also on direct interviews. The Israeli Ministry of Justice and the Military Advocate General were consulted on the matter as well, who reported no sexual violence complaints against members of the Israeli military.
Last year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also urged a thorough investigation of such excesses, insisting that "gender-based violence must always be condemned, at all times and everywhere." "The UN claims to care about women, but while we speak, Israeli women are being raped and abused by Hamas terrorists. Where is the UN's voice?" stated Gilad Erdan, Israel's permanent representative to the UN on Monday at the General Assembly. "Ruthless pressure must be applied to Hamas to put an end to sexual violence and to secure the immediate release of the hostages," he added.
In advance of the report's release, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz announced that the country's UN Ambassador would be immediately called for consultations. Katz referenced the UN's "attempt to silence the mass rapes committed by Hamas and its allies on October 7th."
Katz also criticized Guterres for not convening the UN Security Council to discuss the investigations' findings and for not declaring Hamas as a terrorist organization.
The 24-page UN report states, "Credible indirect information was also collected which could point towards certain forms of sexual violence, including mutilation of genitalia, sexual torture, or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment." The report further notes, "The delegation found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken to the Gaza Strip were subjected to sexual violence, making it plausible that such acts of violence are continuing."
The expert group emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation to assess the extent of the committed sexual violence acts.
Experts also reported examining cases of sexual violence committed against Palestinian men and women in custody, during house searches and at checkpoints. For this purpose, they relied not only on institutional and civil organization sources, but also on direct interviews. The Israeli Ministry of Justice and the Military Advocate General were consulted on the matter as well, who reported no sexual violence complaints against members of the Israeli military.
Last year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also urged a thorough investigation of such excesses, insisting that "gender-based violence must always be condemned, at all times and everywhere." "The UN claims to care about women, but while we speak, Israeli women are being raped and abused by Hamas terrorists. Where is the UN's voice?" stated Gilad Erdan, Israel's permanent representative to the UN on Monday at the General Assembly. "Ruthless pressure must be applied to Hamas to put an end to sexual violence and to secure the immediate release of the hostages," he added.
In advance of the report's release, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz announced that the country's UN Ambassador would be immediately called for consultations. Katz referenced the UN's "attempt to silence the mass rapes committed by Hamas and its allies on October 7th."
Katz also criticized Guterres for not convening the UN Security Council to discuss the investigations' findings and for not declaring Hamas as a terrorist organization.
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