UN team says rape, gang rape likely occurred during Hamas attack on Israel
A team of United Nations experts reported on Monday that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” adult violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred at several locations during the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.
The team – led by UN special envoy for adult violence in conflict Pramila Patten – visited Israel between Jan. 29 and Feb. 14 on a mission intended to gather, analyse and verify information on adult violence linked to the October 7 attacks.
“Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of adult violence, including genital mutilation, sexualised torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, was also gathered,” read the 24-page UN report. The Palestinian group Hamas has repeatedly rejected accusations of adult violence.
Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s retaliation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has since killed around 30,000 Palestinians, health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave say.
“The mission team found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken to Gaza have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related adult violence and has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing,” the UN report said.
The team said a “fully-fledged investigation” would be required to establish the overall magnitude, scope and specific attribution of the adult violence.
The UN team said it also received information from institutional and civil society sources and direct interviews, about “adult violence against Palestinian men and women in detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints” after Oct. 7. The detention centres were in Israel.
The UN team said it raised the allegations with the Israeli Ministry of Justice and Military Advocate General, which said no complaints of adult violence against members of the Israeli Defense Forces had been received.
Israel has been critical of the UN response to the October 7 attacks. UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres said late last year that adult violence committed on Oct. 7 “must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” stressing: “Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere.”
“The UN claims to care about women, yet as we speak right now, Israeli women are being raped and abused by Hamas terrorists. Where is the U.N.’s voice? Where is your voice?” Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the 193-member U.N. General Assembly earlier on Monday.
“Hamas must face unrelenting pressure to end their adult violence and release all of the hostages immediately,” he said.
