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Content warning: This article contains references to rape and sexual assault.
There are “reasonable grounds to believe” rapes were committed during Hamas’ 7 October attacks on Israel and that hostages subsequently taken to Gaza have also been raped, a UN report said on Tuesday.
UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten found “clear and convincing information” that some hostages had been raped, and believes “that such violence may be ongoing against those still held.”
“Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualised torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, was also gathered,” read the 24-page UN report.
As the UN faced criticism for reacting too slowly to the rapes and sexual violence that Israel accuses Hamas of committing on 7 October, Patten, accompanied by experts, visited Israel and the West Bank for two and a half weeks in early February.
“In the context of the coordinated attack by Hamas and other armed groups against civilian and military targets throughout the Gaza periphery, the mission team found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations during the 7 October attacks, including rape and gang-rape,” the report said.
These happened in at least three locations — the Nova music festival site and its surroundings, Road 232, and Kibbutz Re’im, it added.
“In most of these incidents, victims first subjected to rape were then killed, and at least two incidents relate to the rape of women’s corpses,” the report said.
Despite calls for victims of sexual violence to come forward and testify, none did.
However, members of the mission were able to interview survivors and witnesses of the 7 October attacks, as well as members of the health services.
They viewed 5,000 photographs and 50 hours of footage of the attacks.
They were also able to talk to some of those hostages who had been released.
Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas’ 7 October attack in which more than 1,200 people, including an estimated 30 children, were killed and over 200 hostages taken, according to the Israeli government.
More than 30,410 people have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
The 7 October attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
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