A recent report from a UN team has found “reasonable grounds to believe” that sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was committed by Hamas during the attacks in Israel on 7 October. This revelation sheds light on the heinous acts that took place during the conflict, including instances of sexual violence against hostages, as reported by the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. The report detailed incidents of conflict-related sexual violence in multiple locations, including the Nova music festival site, Road 232, and Kibbutz Re’im. These acts occurred in the context of a larger attack in which Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in numerous deaths, hostages taken, and subsequent military response by Israel. Reports of sexual violence carried out by Hamas have been mounting since the attacks, with evidence of rape, sexual violence, and mutilation of women emerging.
The UN mission team, which included Ms. Patten and nine experts, worked to gather and verify allegations of sexual violence. Despite efforts to encourage victims to come forward, the team was unable to interview any directly. Some allegations of sexual violence could not be verified or were unfounded, including a highly publicized case of a pregnant woman whose womb was reportedly torn open. The report also mentioned a lack of discernible pattern of genital mutilation, though it did uncover information about sexual violence against Palestinian men and women in various settings after the attacks.
Israel has rejected similar allegations made by independent UN experts in the past, calling them “despicable and unfounded.” The response to the recent report from Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has been critical of the UN for not convening the Security Council to discuss the findings and declare Hamas a terrorist organization. However, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric clarified that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres fully supported Ms. Patten’s work during her visit to Israel and made the report public.
The impact of this report is significant as it highlights the atrocities committed during the conflict and the ongoing need to address conflict-related sexual violence. It also underscores the importance of accountability and justice for victims of such violence, as well as the challenges in verifying and addressing these crimes in conflict zones. The findings of this report may prompt further investigations and actions to address sexual violence in conflict situations, as well as raise awareness about the prevalence of such crimes and the need for prevention and protection measures.
