The UN envoy focusing on sexual violence in conflict recently released a report detailing the horrific acts committed by Hamas during its surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. The report, based on first-hand accounts of released hostages, highlights the disturbing reality of rape, sexualized torture, and other cruel and inhumane treatment of women and children at the hands of Hamas fighters.
The report comes nearly five months after the Oct. 7 attacks, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and the hostage-taking of some 250 individuals. The aftermath of the attack has left Gaza in ruins, with over 30,000 people killed and a quarter of the population facing starvation, according to the UN. Despite these atrocities, Hamas has denied allegations of sexual assault.
During her visit to Israel and the West Bank from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14, Pramila Patten and her team gathered information for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ annual report on sexual violence in conflict. The key recommendation from the report is to encourage Israel to grant access to the UN human rights chief and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian territories and Israel for a full investigation into the alleged violations.
The team’s findings reveal a pattern of conflict-related sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks in multiple locations across Gaza periphery. The report details instances of rape, gang rape, and the killing of victims, with some bodies found fully or partially naked with their hands tied and shot multiple times. These gruesome acts point to a systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon during the attacks.
One particularly disturbing incident occurred at the Nova music festival, where multiple cases of sexual violence were reported, with victims being raped or gang-raped before being killed. Witnesses also described seeing murdered individuals, mostly women, with their bodies found naked from the waist down, some shot in the head, and others tied to trees or poles with their hands bound.
The report also mentions incidents along Road 232, where armed elements reportedly raped two women. Several bodies were found with genital injuries, indicating a brutal and dehumanizing form of violence. The team found a pattern of bound naked or partially naked bodies along Road 232, further highlighting the extent of the atrocities committed during the attacks.
Despite efforts to investigate allegations of sexual violence, the team was unable to meet with victims directly. However, they conducted interviews with survivors, witnesses, health providers, and other individuals to gather information for the report. The true prevalence of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks may never be fully known, but the report sheds light on the horrors faced by women and children at the hands of Hamas fighters.
In conclusion, the report by the UN envoy highlights the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the alleged violations of human rights during the Oct. 7 attacks. The use of sexual violence as a weapon in conflict is a grave violation of international law and must be addressed with urgency and accountability. The victims deserve justice, and it is essential to hold those responsible for these heinous acts accountable for their actions.