Sexual and gender-based violence in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel explained

During the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israeli women, girls, and men were reportedly subject to sexual violence, including rape and sexual assault by Hamas or other Gazan militants.[1] [2] The militants involved in the attack are accused of having committed acts of gender-based violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity.[3] [4] [5] Hamas has denied that its fighters committed any sexual assaults, and has called for an impartial international investigation into the accusations.

The BBC reported in December 2023 that "videos of naked and bloodied women filmed by Hamas on the day of the attack, and photographs of bodies taken at the sites afterwards, suggest that women were sexually targeted by their attackers".[6] Israeli police said dozens of women and some men were raped. Witnesses described the perpetrators using shovels,[7] beheading victims, engaged in rapes, and playing with severed body parts. Several victims of sexual violence from October 7th and captivity in Gaza have come forward, while testimonies by October 7th survivors and released hostages' reported witnessing both female and male hostages subjected to sexual violence.[8] [9] [10] [11]

The UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten reported in March 2024, with the "full cooperation" of the Israeli government,[12] that there was "clear and convincing information" that Israeli hostages in Gaza experienced "sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment", that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe such abuse is "ongoing" and there was also "reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks in multiple locations across Gaza periphery, including rape and gang-rape, in at least three locations."[13] [14] The report was not a full and legal investigation but designed to "collect and verify allegations", and thus the team highlighted that their conclusion "falls below 'beyond a reasonable doubt'."[15] Consequently, later on 23 April 2024, the UN refused to acknowledge the rape allegations against Hamas and did not include the group in the blacklist of state and non-state parties guilty of sexual violence in 2023 due to the lack of credible evidence [16] [17] [18]

On 12 April 2024, the European Union sanctioned military and special forces wings of Hamas and the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad due to their responsibility for the alleged sexual violence on 7 October.[19] The EU said the two groups' fighters “committed widespread sexual and gender-based violence in a systematic manner, using it as a weapon of war.”[20]

The independent UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) subsequently published a legal and in-depth investigative report in June 2024 which concluded from “documented evidence” that there was a pattern indicative of sexual violence by Palestinian forces during the attack, that these incidents were not isolated, and that Hamas and other militant groups were responsible for gender-based violence "by willful killings, abductions, and physical, mental and sexual abuse."[21] They also reviewed testimonies of rape, sexualized torture and genital mutilation but were unable "to independently verify such allegations" due to Israel's obstruction of its investigation. It also found "no credible evidence" that Palestinian militants "received orders to commit sexual violence," and thus was unable to draw conclusions on the issue.

A number of initial testimonies of sexual violence were discredited later.[22] [23] [24] Israel accused international human rights groups of downplaying assault reports.

Evidence

Gender percentage of 7 October deaths
Group Source % female Reference
Total AOAV[25] 26.6%
Civilians 36%
Civilians AOAV 41%
Military AOAV 11%
Other security forces AOAV 15%
The attacks by Hamas on Israeli communities, in which 1,139 people were killed and 240 hostages were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, reportedly involved widespread sexual violence.[26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] In a review of evidence mainly provided by the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli officials, NBC News stated that the evidence "suggests that dozens of Israeli women were raped or sexually abused or mutilated".[33] Hamas fighters infiltrated Israeli towns, where witnesses said they tortured, raped and sexually assaulted many women and girls of all ages, and some men.[34] [35] [36] [37] [38]

Ina Kubbe, a scholar specializing in gender and conflict at Tel Aviv University, said that evidence aligns with sexual violence. However, she emphasized the necessity of a forensic investigation for an official determination of rape.[39]

Following the attacks, Israeli police, Shin Bet and Israeli military began to collect evidence, take witness statements and to interrogate captured Hamas militants concerning the alleged sexual violence perpetrated during the 7 October attack. Police recorded the difficulty in collecting physical evidence in a war zone, due to this the full extent of the crimes may never be known.[40] Authorities retrieved video evidence, photographs of victims' bodies, and militants' testimonies which they said confirmed accounts of sexual assault.[41] [42] [43] Autopsies of victims also corroborated these accounts, according to the Israeli police.[44] To pressure the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for securing the release of hostages, the Hostages Families Forum also released graphic footage of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces (IDF) women personnel that were previously released by Hamas and edited by the IDF that excluded "the most disturbing scenes".[45]

Testimony of Israelis

Survivors, victims, witnesses, first responders, and military personnel provided accounts of the alleged rape, mutilation and other sexual violence that Hamas militants inflicted.[46] [47] An official from Lahav 433 told the Knesset that 1,500 testimonies had been collected.[48] Shelly Harush, the police officer leading the investigation recounted to The Times on 2 December 2023: "It's clear now that sexual crimes were part of the planning and the purpose was to terrify and humiliate people."[49]

According to Tel Aviv University professor Tamar Herzig, witnesses heard militants discussing plans to rape specific girls.[50] Herzig also said that they were also seen "parading the rape victims" with their clothes ripped off and blood between their legs. She said that testimony was taken from survivors who were brought to Israeli acute response centers. Herzig said that, over the next few weeks, forensic evidence collected from bodies of Israeli girls indicated that they had been raped, sometimes so violently that their legs and pelvis bones were broken. Survivors also testified to instances of gang rape and the breasts of young women being chopped off.[51] [52] [53] [54]

Interrogations of Hamas militants

See main article: Interrogation of militants in the Israel–Hamas war. Israeli security agencies released video footage, showing their interrogation of seven Hamas militants, one of whom says they were given permission to rape a corpse.

On 28 March 2024 the IDF released footage of a PIJ militant, Manar Mahmoud Muhammad Qassem, explicitly admitting his rape of an Israeli woman in a kibbutz on 7 October. In the video, Qassem describes the incident in detail including her clothes, bra and underwear and the fact she was later taken with her mother by two other militants.[55] [56]

In May 2024, the IDF released footage of a captured father and son, who were said to be Hamas members, confessing to murdering civilians in their homes, kidnapping victims, and raping women before murdering one of them at kibbutz Nir Oz.[57] [58]

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International stated that these alleged confessions were likely extracted under torture, violate international law and basic human rights, and should be considered inadmissible as credible evidence.[59] They also called on the Israeli government to cease publishing such taped "confessions". Physicians for Human Rights Israel denounced these alleged taped confessions, citing "severe concern that the interrogations included the use of torture."[60]

Limited forensic work

Members of the UN, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, and the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel have all noted the lack of forensic investigation that was done on the deceased at the attack locations. Due to the large numbers of deceased individuals Israel was attempting to fully identify all of the victims at least a month after the 7 October attacks, causing overtaxed morgues to not collect physical evidence or process rape kits from any bodies. Morgue officials in Israel reportedly cannot designate individual cases of rape or sexual violence, due to a lack of physical proof that is necessary in a court of law. The UN, which found "clear and convincing information" of sexual violence during the Hamas attacks, reports that the limited forensic evidence is due to both the large number of casualties and the "dispersed crime scenes in a context of persistent hostilities".[61] [62] A government relations officer at the Israel Women’s Network said that, most of the raped had been killed, and their bodies were burned or buried along with any forensic evidence.[63] Israeli media acknowledged the scenes of the attacks had not been properly photographed, preserved or forensically examined.

Assessments of motivation

Experts such as one that Vox interviewed, say that sexual violence is an "inherent, if under-examined, aspect of violent conflict".[64] Hamas admitted "mistakes were made" on 7 October, but denied that its fighters committed rape and sexual assault, noting that it is forbidden in Islam.

Israelis and others have accused Hamas of systematically using rape as a weapon of war.[65] [66] [67]

Cochav Elkayam-Levy, a former Israeli government lawyer who headed a non-governmental commission advocating for recognition of sexual assault crimes on 7 October[68] concluded that Hamas "weaponized" sexual violence in order to harm Israeli morale.[69]

In February 2024, ARCCI, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers of Israel, published a report summarizing witness testimony and categorizing the alleged sexual violence of 7 October into "Practices of Rape During Wars" and "Sadistic Practices". Throughout the report ARCCI repeats conclusions that the alleged sexual violence was systematic, deliberate, widespread, and not spontaneous or incidental, and "Hamas terrorists employed sadistic practices aimed at intensifying the degree of humiliation and terror inherent in sexual violence".[70]

Alleged acts by location

Sexual violence is alleged to have taken place in four types of locations:[70]

Re'im music festival and vicinity

See main article: Re'im music festival massacre. Hamas led an attack on the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re'im a little after 7 am on 7 October.

Video of "the woman in black dress"

On 8 October, a video from the festival circulated on social media which showed a woman lying on her back, dress torn, legs spread and vagina exposed while her face was burned and her right hand covering her eyes.[70] She was later identified as Gal Abdush (née Brakha).[71] [72] [73] Eden Wessely, a woman searching for a friend after the rave who says she filmed the video, told ARCCI that she had seen a cut wound on the victim's leg, which led her to believe the victim's underwear had been cut off.[70] After the New York Times "Screams Without Words" article, Wessely told media that Abdush had been raped, burned, and murdered.[74]

Eti Bracha, Gal's mother; Rami Bracha, Gal's brother; and Nagi's mother all believe that Gal was raped.[75] Eti stated that "there are witnesses who saw the sexual assault of my daughter" and emphasized the importance that the world knows about "the sexual assaults committed by these monsters, that they don't close their eyes and say they don't believe it really happened."[76] Nagi's mother lamented how her son saw his wife sexually assaulted before being shot.[76] Rami stated that "the feeling was difficult" learning his sister was raped and "knowing what she went through before she was shot and murdered".[76]

Nissim Abdush, brother of Gal's husband Nagi, who was also killed, and Abdush's two sisters Miral Altar and Tali Barakha, have all cast doubt on the claim that Gal was raped.[77] Nissim was interviewed on Channel 13 on 1 January 2024 and repeatedly denied that Gal was raped. He said Nagi had called him at 7 AM, saying his wife was killed but never mentioned anything related to sexual assault. Abdush reiterated that Gal had not been raped and that "the media invented it".[78]

Tali posted on Instagram: “No one can know what Gal went through there! Also, what Nagi went through, but I can’t cooperate with those who say many things that are not true. I plead with you to stop spreading lies, there is a family and children behind them, no one can know if there was rape or if she was burned while alive. Have you gone mad? I spoke to Nagi personally! At 7 o’clock, Gal was killed by those animals, and they shot her in the heart. Nagi was alive until quarter past eight…”

Miral Altar, Gal's sister, wrote on Instagram: "It's clear that the dress is lifted upwards and not in its natural state, and half her head is burned because they threw a grenade at the car... At 6:51, Gal WhatsApp'ed saying 'we are at the border'...At 7 AM, my brother-in-law (Nagi) called his brother (Nissim) and said they shot Gal and she's dying. It doesn't make any sense that in four minutes, they raped her, slaughtered her, and burned her?" She subsequently deleted the post. The New York Times reported that "critics circulated images of it to assert falsely that the family had renounced the article". She later told the Times she regretted her post being used to question whether Palestinian militants had raped women, and that she had been "confused about what happened" and was trying to "protect" her sister, adding: “Did she suffer? Did she die right away?”...“I want to hope she didn’t suffer, but we will never know.”

Esther / Witness S / Sapir

In October 2023, Israeli police showed multiple journalists a video of a woman whom Le Parisien called "Esther" and BBC called "Witness S"[6] describing what she claims to have seen from her hiding place near the festival:[79] a militant bent someone over, then "Esther" understood that he was raping the victim; the militant passed her on to someone else; she was still alive and bleeding from her back; the men cut off parts of her body, sliced her breast, threw it on the street and played with it;[6] another militant raped her, then while still penetrating her, shot her in the head, and then ejaculated.[6] [80] Two months later, in December 2023, the New York Times reported accounts with very similar themes from a witness identified as "Sapir".[72] [73]

Knesset

A survivor told a Knesset panel her account, saying she saw naked girls, sliced bodies and violated girls whose pelvises were broken due to the extent of the abuse. An unnamed witness claims they found the festival vicinity an "apocalypse of bodies, girls without clothes, some missing their upper, some their lower parts".[81] [48]

Yoni Saadon

Survivor Yoni Saadon recounted to The Times: "they had caught a young woman near a car and she was fighting back, not allowing them to strip her. They threw her to the ground and one of the terrorists took a shovel and beheaded her and her head rolled along the ground. I see that head too".[49]

Route 232

An unnamed man reportedly saw men in civilian clothes drag a woman out of a van in route 232 nearby, gather around her and penetrate her while she screamed, and that one of the men then killed her with a knife. Three other unnamed persons testified seeing women raped and killed there and at one other location along route 232.[72] [73]

Victim testimony

An anonymous survivor of the Nova festival massacre, under the initial "D.", became the first male rape victim to come forward publicly about his sexual assault, which he testified was committed by members of Nukhba, a special forces unit of Hamas.[82] [83] D. had reported his rape to the police unit investigating sex crimes by Hamas terrorists on 7 October.[82] [83] "D." reported being pinned down the ground and trying to resist while the assailants "take off your clothes, laugh at you, humiliate you, spit at you. They touched private parts, rape you."[82] [83] He further recalled his rapists circling and laughing at him, and he called the ordeal "a very difficult rape."[82] [83] "D." also discussed the traumatic aftermath of his rape, reporting that "there's this obsessive urge to get cleaned, lots of showers, to get this energy and all that happened off of me. You're having a conversation with people and suddenly everything resurfaces."[82] [83] In his testimony, aware of the doubts cast on survivors of sexual violence on 7 October, D. presented medical opinions of the harm that was done to him as well as sat for a polygraph test.[83] He also revealed that he is one of more than 100 survivors of the music festival in a major lawsuit suing the State of Israel for more than NIS 500 million ($137 million) in government support.[83]

Other accounts

A unnamed male witness told the BBC that he had heard what he was sure were the screams of women being raped and that dead women were raped as well.[6] Another survivor, Ron Freger, told the Associated Press that he heard a woman screaming "They're raping me, they're raping me" followed by several gunshots, at which point she fell silent.

The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel cited four sources: Video of "the woman in the black dress", the Sunday Times report on Yoni Saadon, the account given at the Knesset, and Sky News reports of ZAKA responders who say bodies arrived partially clothed or unclothed, some with heavy pelvic bleeding and/or genital mutilation, which ARCCI asserts align with the other accounts.[70]

Kibbutzim

Alleged rapes at Kibbutz Be'eri

See also: Be'eri massacre. In Kibbutz Be'eri, a paramedic from the 669 Special Tactics Rescue Unit said he went house to house looking for anyone still alive after the attack and found the bodies of two teenage girls in a bedroom.[84] [85] He said that he had no doubt one of the teenagers had been raped, but he did not know if she had died first.[84] Two bodies of women were reportedly found with legs and hands tied to their beds, one of whose genitals were stabbed with a knife and internal organs removed.[6]

In March 2024, The Intercept reported that these were teenage sisters Y. and N. Sharabi, ages 13 and 16. In a Channel 12 interview,[86] new Times reporter Anat Schwartz said she tried but failed to find a second witness to confirm that the girls had been sexually assaulted after the paramedic told her his story about them.[87] Similarly, in March the UN special representative stated that, at Kibbutz Be’eri, her team “was able to determine that at least two allegations of sexual violence widely repeated in the media were unfounded due to either new superseding information or inconsistency in the facts gathered.".[88] In March 2024, The Intercept noted that Kibbutz Be'eri's spokesperson Michal Paikin rejected the story of rapes of taking place there that the New York Times had included in its article. He said "they were shot and were not subjected to sexual abuse".[87]

Channel 12 published an interview in late February 2024 with the girls' grandparents, which The Intercept said contradicted the Times reporting that the girls were sexually assaulted and found alone in a bedroom: instead the grandmother said that the girls "were just shot — nothing else had been done to them", and that the girls were "found between the 'mamad' — the house's safe room — and the dining room", while the grandfather said that a soldier told him the girls' mother "was covering the two girls and they were shot".[87] Earlier in October 2023, the grandmother had told BBC News that the girls were "found all cuddled together with [their mother] doing what a mother would do — holding her babies in her arms, trying to protect them at the end".[87]

The New York Times later reported that video evidence contradicted the paramedic's claims about the girls supposedly being found in Be'eri with their clothes removed showing signs of abuse. Video evidence, which the Times verified, showed three girls "fully clothed and with no apparent signs of sexual violence". No other home in Be'eri had multiple female teenage victims. The medic declined to say if he stood by his story, though the Israeli military said that he did but that he may have been mistaken on the location.[89]

Other accounts

The New York Times viewed photographs of a woman's corpse found in a kibbutz that had dozens of nails driven into her groin and thighs.[72] It also reported testimony that women and girls were raped in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.[72]

The ARCCI Report cited 6 cases and sources:[70]

IDF bases

Many of the bodies discovered in the various scenes were brought to the IDF Military Rabbinate Camp Shura, which hosts facilities for body identification.[90]

Shari Mendes

Shari Mendes, an army reservist stationed at the camp, recounted in an event at the United Nations that her team discovered female soldiers who were shot in their vagina or breasts, and reported that it appeared there was systematic genital mutilation by Hamas militants.[91] She further stated that they found beheaded bodies or bodies with missing limbs or bodies whose faces were mutilated, with some faces shot multiple times post-mortem.[91] [92] According to Mendes, bodies were found with little or no clothing, and some were only wearing bloodied underwear.[92] [93] [94] Mendes provided testimony based on her observations of the dead, conveyed in a recorded video, which the IDF verified.[95] [52] [96]

Captain Maayan

IDF Captain Maayan who was a dentist and member of the medical forensic team identifying bodies, said that she had encountered several bodies showing signs consistent with sexual abuse, recounting "I can tell that I saw a lot of signs of abuse in the [genital region] [...] We saw broken legs, broken pelvises, bloody underwear".[97] [98]

Lt. Tamar Bar Shimon

Lt. Tamar Bar Shimon, survivor of the attack at the military base attached to the Erez crossing, said that a Hamas member tried to undress her, but another Hamas militant stopped him, after which both left the room in which she was hiding.[99]

Moshe Pinchi video

Moshe Pinchi shared a Hamas-filmed video that the IDF had recovered of two soldiers shot in the genitals.[70]

The ARCCI Report cited as evidence "Screams Without Words", Mendes, Maayan, Bar-Shimon, and Pinchi.[70]

In captivity in Gaza

One of the Israeli hostages released during the temporary truce in late November and early December 2023 recounted to The Jerusalem Post that at least three women were sexually assaulted by their Hamas captors.[100] [101] [102] The Associated Press reported that an unnamed Israeli doctor who treated 110 of the released hostages said that least 10 men and women had been sexually assaulted or abused while in captivity.[103] The released hostages underwent pregnancy tests and were screened for sexually transmitted diseases. Two Israeli doctors as well as an unnamed Israeli military official confirmed to USA Today that Israeli women in captivity underwent sexual abuse in their captivity. One of the doctors also said that "many of the 30 females from ages 12 to 48 suffered sexual assault during captivity". Another doctor said that many of the women who had witnessed sexual assaults were experiencing PTSD.[104] [105] The Israeli military official said "we know that female hostages were raped during their captivity under control of Hamas."[104] [105]

In January 2024, a video taken October 2023 re-emerged showing 4 female Israeli soldiers[106] [107] [108] [109] held hostage: Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa, and Agam Berger. After this, released hostage Chen Goldstein-Almog reported having seen some of them who had told her that their captors had sexually abused them multiple times.[110] [111]

The ARCCI report cited the Times of Israel report plus two statements from former hostages from Kfar Aza: Chen and Agam Goldstein said they had encountered 3 female hostages who told them that captors had sexually assaulted them; and Kan ran a story with Aviva Sigal who said she saw a woman whom captors had just assaulted when taking her to the restroom, and said that captors turned women and men into "puppets on a string".[70]

A UN report in March 2024 concluded that there was "clear and convincing information" that Israeli hostages in Gaza experienced "sexual violence, including rape" and there were "reasonable grounds" to believe such abuse is "ongoing against those still held in captivity".

In late March 2024, Amit Soussana, in an interview with The New York Times, said that she had been sexually abused while held captive by Hamas in Gaza.[112] [113] She was taken captive, on 7 October, around 24 October, her assailant, who called himself Muhammad, dragged her at gunpoint to a child's bedroom, where Soussana said that "he, with the gun pointed at me, forced me to commit a sexual act on him." A medical report was filed jointly by senior Israeli gynecologist, Dr. Julia Barda, and a social worker, Valeria Tsekhovsky. Barda stated that “Amit spoke immediately, fluently and in detail, not only about her sexual assault but also about the many other ordeals she experienced." Siegal Sadetzki, a professor at Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medicine, recounted that Soussana first told her about the sexual assault within days of her release and also reported Soussana’s accounts have remained consistent. Soussana also described to NYT being detained in roughly six sites, including private homes, an office and a subterranean tunnel.

Notable reports

Report by Israeli rape crisis center association

In February 2024, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) published its survey of the of sexual violence carried out during the attack.[114] The 35-page report, based in part on statements from ZAKA members, suggested that the attacks were more widespread than initially believed, occurring at various locations across southern Israel and in captivity in Gaza. It reported that in some instances, rapes were carried out in the presence of an audience, including partners, family, or friends, with the apparent intention of increasing pain, humiliation and trauma. It concluded there was evidence for a "systematic, targeted sexual abuse" of women during the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October, that ignited the war in Gaza.[115] [116] [117]

ARCCI stated that the report included new testimony that it received "from professionals and confidential calls" and that "arrived at ARCCI centers".[72]

New York Times "Screams Without Words"

A New York Times investigation by Jeffrey Gettleman, Anat Schwartz, and Adam Sella, released in late December 2023, found at least seven locations where sexual assaults and mutilations of Israeli women and girls were carried out. It concluded that these were not isolated events but part of a broader pattern of gender-based violence during the 7 October massacres. The newspaper's probe concluded that Hamas "weaponized sexual violence" during the attacks.

UN report of March 2024

After pressure from the Israeli government and others, the UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten declared a fact-finding mission to Israel, an unprecedented move for her office.[118] She and her team spent two weeks in Israel and the West-Bank at the invitation of the Israeli government. Azadeh Moaveni reported: "Her office didn’t have a mandate to investigate sexual crimes on the ground and had never undertaken such a mission before. I was told by multiple sources at the UN that her trip was a matter of fierce controversy within the organisation."[119]

On 4 March 2024, Patten's United Nations team published a report,[120] concluding that "there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks in multiple locations across Gaza periphery, including rape and gang-rape, in at least three locations": the Nova music festival and its vicinities of Road 232 and kibbutz Re'im.[121] [122] The mission did not manage to independently verify media reports of sexual violence in Nahal Oz kibbutz and Kfar Aza kibbutz.[123] The UN team was also "unable to establish the prevalence of sexual violence", and "did not gather information and/or draw conclusions on attribution of alleged violations to specific armed groups", due to the lack of a "fully-fledged" investigation.[124] [125] The UN "mission was not investigative", but was designed to collect and confirm allegations, with information being in "large part sourced from Israeli national institutions", stated the report. Separately, Patten told the media that the Israeli government fully cooperated with them, with the mission finding the information given to be "authentic and unmanipulated".[126] The report noted that the mission collected "Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualized torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment".[127] The report also found "clear and convincing information" to show that Israeli hostages in Gaza had been subject to "sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment". According to the UN report, its "witnesses and sources ... adopted over time an increasingly cautious and circumspect approach regarding past accounts, including in some cases retracting statements made previously", with some disavowing confidence in allegations they had previously made to media outlets.[128]

An investigation by The Times which includes an interview with Patten reiterates that her report was not a full and legal investigation, did not establish anything beyond a reasonable doubt, and cites Patten again calling on the Israeli government to cooperate with the UN agency tasked with an investigative mandate, the Commission of Inquiry.[129]

UN report of June 2024

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory released a legal and in-depth investigative report on 12 June 2024 which found, based on factual findings, that both Hamas and Israel had committed sexual violence and torture, along with intentional attacks on civilians.[130] The report was created by information compiled from interviews of victims, witnesses, open sourced items, forensic analysis and medical reports, satellite imagery, and others.[131] Israel had previously announced its refusal to cooperate with the inquiry.

The report stated that the commission found “documented evidence” that Palestinian forces were responsible for multiple incidents "indicative of sexual violence" at the Re'im festival and the Nahal Oz military outpost, as well as several kibbutzim.[132] These incidents included the physical and sexual abuse of female abductees and "sexualized desecration" of corpses both male and female.[133] It found Hamas targeted women, whose bodies were “used as victory trophies by male perpetrators [and] put on public display, either on the streets of the Gaza Strip or online.”[134] Furthermore, the report concluded that the acts of sexual violence on 7 October were "not isolated incidents but perpetrated in similar ways in several locations and by multiple Palestinian perpetrators."[135] The report concluded there was a pattern indicative of sexual violence by Palestinian forces during the attack, and that Hamas and other militant groups were responsible for gender-based violence "by willful killings, abductions, and physical, mental and sexual abuse".

The Commission was unable to independently verify testimony of genital mutilation, sexual torture and rape, citing a lack of access to witnesses and crime scenes, and Israel's obstruction of its investigations.[134] It also found "no credible evidence" that Palestinian forces had been ordered to commit sexual violence, and consequently were unable to make conclusions on the matter.[136] In addition, the Commission found some specific allegations to be false, inaccurate or contradicted by other evidence or statements and discounted these from its assessment.[136]

Physicians for Human Rights Israel

The NGO Physicians for Human Rights Israel published a position paper in November 2023, which brought together the accounts and reports published to date, testimonies of survivors, accounts by security and emergency personnel, and visual accounts published online. It concluded that there was significant evidence of acts of sexual and gender-based violence on 7 October and on-going risk to hostages: "Though we are unable to determine the dimensions of the harm inflicted, the accounts and reports of sexual abuse committed during the October 7 Hamas attacks, including those brought to our attention and those made public, provide sufficient evidence to require an investigation of crimes against humanity."[137] [138]

However, in May 2024 Physicians for Human Rights Israel published a "Clarification on the Organization’s November 2023 Position Paper on Sexual Violence", expressing regret for including subsequently "disputed or deemed unverifiable" testimonies. They emphasize that their own position paper was not the "comprehensive and exhaustive investigation" needed, as "PHRI lacks the sufficient staffing, resources, or professional tools required to carry out the thorough and competent investigation advocated for in the position paper."

The new information that has come to light further reinforces our call for an investigation into the subject. It is crucial to recognize that due to the fragmented nature of traumatic memories, they are often expressed in incomplete, confused, or contradictory ways. Therefore, it is neither accurate nor just for persons lacking the required expertise and tools to assess the credibility of witnesses. Accordingly, moving forward, we will rely on the Patten report and, when available, additional reports and documents produced by competent investigative bodies.
They note that the Patten report found reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the October attacks in multiple locations, as well as clear and convincing information that some hostages have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence, which may be on-going. The group also condemned the "manipulative and cynical" exploitation of accounts of sexual violence on 7 October by the Israeli government and other entities "as part of a campaign to dehumanize Palestinians and as a propaganda tool to justify Israel’s brutal military assault on the Gaza Strip."[139]

Other investigations and reports

Cochav Elkayam-Levy, a legal expert from the Davis Institute for International Relations at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, former Israeli government lawyer and former member of the military spokesperson's unit, established the “Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children”, based at the Dvora Institute for Gender and Sustainability Studies, which aimed to give voice to the victims and their families. In March 2024, she received the Israel Prize for this.[68] [140] [141]

In December 2023, the BBC published the results of several interviews with people involved in collecting and identifying the bodies of those killed on 7 October, along with analysis of video testimony and open video footage filmed by Hamas of the attack.

In April 2024 Sheryl Sandberg's documentary Screams Before Silence, directed by Anat Stalinsky, was published on YouTube.[142] The film focuses on sexual violence against Israelis on October 7 and in captivity in Gaza.[143] [144] It includes testimonies of men and women who survived the attack, abductees who were recently released including Amit Soussana, volunteers from ZAKA, as well as Israeli police and other officials.[145] [146]

In June 2024, The Times published a report stating that investigators believed that Israel's claims about the scale and the formally sanctioned, systematic nature of sexual assaults did not stand up to scrutiny.

Other controversies

ZAKA controversy

The mostly ultra-Orthodox ZAKA volunteer paramedic and rescue group began collecting bodies immediately after the Hamas attacks, while the IDF avoided assigning soldiers with training to carefully retrieve and document human remains in post-terrorism situations. Zaka spokesman, Simcha Greeneman, said in one kibbutz he came across a dead woman with sharp objects in her vagina, including nails.[67] [147] However, as part of the effort to get media exposure, Zaka spread accounts of atrocities that never happened, released sensitive and graphic photos, and acted unprofessionally on the ground, often mixing up remains of multiple victims in the same bag and creating little or no documentation about the remains.[148] [149] Because Zaka took several months to acknowledge these accounts were wrong, they proliferated widely.[150] Additionally, while speaking with reporters in March 2024 a member of the organization and IDF reservist stated that he had modified the clothing on the remains of women at the Nova music festival in order to preserve their dignity before taking an identification photograph.[151]

Claims of "weaponization" and "mass" rape as pro-Israeli propaganda

In February 2024, The Hill host Briahna Joy Gray criticized U.S. State Department assumptions without evidence that Hamas had raped female Israeli hostages,[152] and in particular criticized the characterization of the sexual violence as "mass rape" rather than individual acts, or "weaponization of rape" as being Israeli war propaganda.[153] American journalist Max Blumenthal has also claimed that Israel was inventing stories of mass rape on 7 October.[154] An investigation by the United Nations found a lack of evidence that Hamas had deliberately weaponized sexual violence, although it did not rule out the possibility.[136]

United Nations and human rights groups

The United Nations, particularly the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), were criticized by Jewish and Israeli media and advocates for not condemning rapes of Israeli women after being presented with evidence and witness testimonies.[155] [156] [157] Israel condemned the UN for its response.[158] [159] [160] The Israeli First Lady, Michal Herzog, called the response of international organizations such as UN Women an "inconceivable and unforgivable silence".[161] [162] UN Women briefly condemned Hamas in a post, but deleted the post shortly after.[163] Jewish and Israeli media and advocacy organizations criticized UN Women and the

  1. MeToo movement
, saying they did not condemn the violence against women that took place during the 7 October attack.[164] [165] [166] [167] In response to UN Women, US- and Israel-based activists created the slogan "#MeToo Unless You're A Jew". Israeli law professor Cochav Elkayam Levy told The New York Times that she sent a letter signed by dozens of scholars to UN Women on 2 November, calling for condemnation of sexual violence during the attack; she said she did not receive a response.[168] A bipartisan group of more than 80 members of the US congress said the response of UN Women was "woefully unsatisfactory and consistent with the UN's longstanding bias against Israel".

Israeli human rights group Physicians for Human Rights Israel called for the International Criminal Court to investigate the sexual violence accusations.[169] UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem was criticized by Claire Waxman, London's Victims' Commissioner, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, as she did not speak out on reports of sexual and gender-based violence in the 7 October attack on Israel against Israeli women during and following the Hamas-led attack,[170] reportedly labeling accounts of sexual violence as "disinformation".[171]

On 25 November in Paris, a group of about 200 protestors attempted to join the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women march. Some carried Israeli flags and signs "denounc[ing] the deafening silence of feminist groups".[172] The group was "effectively barred from joining the march" by pro-Palestine activists; march organizers later released a statement expressing "unambiguous condemnation of the sexual and sexist crimes, rapes and femicides committed by Hamas", they also accused far-right activists of stoking tensions at the march and seeking to discredit its organisers.[172] On 1 December, UN Women stated "We unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel on 7 October".[173] [174] Israeli politician Zehava Galon criticized the organization, writing that "the UN women's organization took almost two months... to issue a pale condemnation."[175] On 4 December, human rights' organizations, including Jewish ones as well as their supporters, protested in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, some dressed in only their underwear and with synthetic blood smeared on their bodies. A former lawmaker Carolyn Maloney stated: "We're here supporting Israeli women who were brutally raped. They deserve the support of other women. Any other attack on women would be treated as a crime."[176] [177] [178]

In response Sarah Hendrik, an official from UN Women, one of the UN agencies subject to these criticisms, stated that "within the UN family, these investigations are led by the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights', and that her agency didn’t have the legal competence to determine culpability: ‘The Independent International Commission of Inquiry has the mandate to investigate all alleged violations."[179] Azadeh Moaveni reported that claims of double standards or lack of condemnation by UN Women were incorrect, as "UN Women has not inveighed against conflict-related sexual violence in Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Colombia or Mali, and its condemnations of rape in the DRC, Central African Republic, Syria and Iraq came years after the events themselves. Where it has responded more swiftly (and then only within months), it has done so in places where the UN had teams on the ground investigating and documenting abuses, or as a result of UN-wide appeals. UN Women has never named a specific group or perpetrator. According to its own protocols, it has been vociferous in responding to 7 October – as many as eight times in the first two months – through statements, social media posts and session remarks."[180] Moaveni also notes that what was demanded of UN Women was to go beyond its mandate and name in an unprecedented way before a proper investigation by the mandated UN bodies had been carried out, and that if it had done so it would have significantly damaged its relationships with grassroots women’s groups. A UN official told her that "[t]he call to condemn Hamas ‘was a trap, like the one laid out for the university presidents."[181]

On 28 November, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that there were numerous accounts of sexual violence during the 7 October attack; he said the incidents "must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted".[182] [183] A UN commission of inquiry investigating war crimes on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict will include a focus on instances of sexual violence by Hamas.[184] [185] [186] Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, accused the commission of antisemitism and stated that Israel will not cooperate with it.[187] Navi Pillay, who chairs the UN inquiry, rejected claims that the UN had delayed acknowledging the sexual violence and said that, despite Israel not cooperating, her team could still take evidence from survivors and witnesses outside of the country: "All they [Israel] have to do is let us in," she told the BBC.[184]

On 8 January 2024, two U.N. experts on torture and on extrajudicial executions demanded accountability for sexual violence against Israeli civilians by Hamas. They said that a substantial body of evidence supported the occurrence of rapes and genital mutilation, indicating potential crimes against humanity.[188] [189] [190] On 16 January, Guterres again stated the accounts must be "rigorously investigated and prosecuted".[191] Israel responded by forbidding doctors to speak to the UN commission investigating 7 October, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat calling the UN commission "an anti-Israeli and antisemitic body".[192]

Meanwhile, early March 2024, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC), Pramila Patten, began a fact-finding mission to Israel and the West Bank to verify information concerning sexual and gender-based violence committed by Hamas. During her week-long visit, Patten and her team reviewed raw footage from 7 October, met with released captives from Gaza, and heard their testimonies. Patten visited various locations, including the Nova festival site in Re'im, Gaza border communities, and the military base in Nahal Oz, to gain insights into sexual crimes committed by Hamas, and findings were submitted to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council in March. The report was published 4 March 2024.[193] [194] [195]

Other incidents

The director of the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre in Canada was fired after she signed a letter questioning the rape reports.[196] [197] [198] After being criticized, student newspaper Yale Daily News issued an apology for issuing editors' notes that challenged statements rapes during the 7 October attack.[199]

Sean Durns of the pro-Israel media monitor Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America complained that the Washington Post did not present mass rape on 7 October as a fact.[200]

Hamas response

See also: Denial of the 7 October attacks. Hamas officials, including Basem Naim, denied the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, citing Islamic principles that forbid any sexual relationship outside of marriage.[1] [201] Hamas accused Western media of bias and said the reports of sexual violence demonized Palestinian resistance. They also demanded that The New York Times apologize following a report on the matter. Hamas said that any sexual violence that occurred should be blamed on other militants that breached the Israel-Gaza border on 7 October.[202] [43]

Naim stated that the New York Times report on sexual violence lacked conclusive evidence, argued that testimonies from Israeli women contradict the report, and cited Hamas's alleged good treatment of female hostages in Gaza Strip.[203] [201] Basem Naim also remarked that the operation on 7 October was "very short", adding that Hamas' militants only had enough time to complete their mission "to crush the enemy's military sites".[204]

International responses

The Maltese, Spanish and Panama ambassadors to Israel condemned the actions of Hamas in a 27 November 2023 Knesset panel.[48] The Canadian ambassador in the same panel lamented the quiet response to actions against Israeli women in the same panel.[48]

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada Mélanie Joly, has pledged $1 million to support Israeli victims of sexual violence. Ottawa has not said which groups will receive the $1 million, nor when.[205]

United States

In a speech on 10 October, US president Joe Biden condemned Hamas, stating that the events represented "pure, unadulterated evil".[206] [207] Former US foreign secretary Hillary Clinton condemned the use of rape in war as a crime against humanity.[208]

Former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, founder of Lean In, a women's rights and advancement group also condemned the rape as a crime against humanity and attacked UN silence as dangerous.[208] Sandberg also described Hamas' rape of women as a weapon of war.[209]

On 4 December, spokesperson for the United States Department of State Matthew Miller said that the Biden administration had not made an explicit condemnation of rape on 7 October because they had not conducted an independent assessment, and not because they doubted the reports.[210] On 5 December, Joe Biden called for global condemnation of "the sexual violence of Hamas terrorists without equivocation", calling the events "horrific".[211] [212] Five days later, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the sexual violence inflicted by Hamas "almost beyond human description or beyond our capacity to digest", and criticized International organizations such as UN Women for being too slow to condemn them.[213]

On 12 December 33 US Democratic and Republican senators demanded in a letter to the UN secretary general that the UN begin investigating sexual and gender based crimes committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023.[214] [215] They further requested the United Nations begin collecting testimonies from survivors and witnesses.[214] [215]

European Union

In April 2024, the European Union sanctioned military and special forces wings of Hamas and the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad due to their responsibility for the sexual violence on 7 October. An asset freeze and travel ban were imposed on the Qassam and Al-Quds Brigades and the Nukhba Force.[216] The EU said the groups' fighters “committed widespread sexual and gender-based violence in a systematic manner, using it as a weapon of war.”[217] [218]

International Criminal Court

In May 2024, Karim Ahmad Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, announced that he was seeking to charge Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual assault against those held captive in Gaza.[219]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Rubin . Shira . 25 November 2023 . Israel investigates an elusive, horrific enemy: Rape as a weapon of war . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128081253/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/25/israel-hamas-rape-sexual-violence/ . 28 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The Washington Post.
  2. News: Sexual Violence Evidence Against Hamas Is Mounting, but the Road to Court Is Still Long . . 29 November 2023 . 23 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231123215829/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-22/ty-article-magazine/.premium/sexual-assault-evidence-against-hamas-is-mounting-but-the-road-to-court-is-still-long/0000018b-f6bb-dafe-a18f-f7fb0a570000 . live.
  3. Web site: 22 November 2023 . The battle to highlight crimes against women in Hamas' attack on Israel . 29 November 2023 . . 27 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127025048/https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk8tgmina . live.
  4. Web site: 2023 . Women in War Under International Law . 29 November 2023 . en.idi.org.il . he . 15 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215192458/https://en.idi.org.il/articles/51505 . live.
  5. News: Lawless . Jill . . 5 November 2023 . How international law applies to war, and why Hamas and Israel are both alleged to have broken it . 29 November 2023 . . en-US . 28 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128175241/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-11-05/how-international-law-applies-to-war-and-why-hamas-and-israel-are-both-alleged-to-have-broken-it . live.
  6. News: Williamson . Lucy . Israel Gaza: Hamas raped and mutilated women on 7 October, BBC hears . . 5 December 2023 . 7 December 2023.
  7. News: Lamb . Christina . 3 December 2023 . First Hamas fighters raped her. Then they shot her in the head . en . . 3 December 2023 . 0140-0460.
  8. News: 14 January 2024 . Israel readies for pregnancies in female hostages raped by Hamas . https://web.archive.org/web/20240301020629/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-782096 . 1 March 2024 . 27 January 2024 . . en-US.
  9. News: Prinsley . Jane . Women and men are being raped by Hamas says released hostage . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201123140/https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/women-and-men-are-being-raped-by-hamas-says-released-hostage-ws3exnuq . 1 February 2024 . 27 January 2024 . The Jewish Chronicle.
  10. News: Sokol . Sam . 23 January 2024 . 'Right now someone is being raped in a tunnel': Knesset hears of Hamas sex crimes . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214045541/https://www.timesofisrael.com/right-now-someone-is-being-raped-in-a-tunnel-knesset-hears-of-hamas-sex-crimes/ . 14 February 2024 . 27 January 2024 . The Times of Israel.
  11. Web site: Kottasová . Ivana . 6 December 2023 . What we know about rape and sexual violence inflicted by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130011953/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/06/middleeast/rape-sexual-violence-hamas-israel-what-we-know-intl/index.html . 30 January 2024 . 29 January 2024 . . en . Since then, dozens of hostages have been released from Gaza as part of a truce between Israel and Hamas and some have also mentioned sexual abuse during their testimonies..
  12. Web site: Besheer . Margaret . UN Mission Says It Has 'Clear and Convincing' Information That Hamas Sexually Violated Women. . 13 March 2024. 4 March 2024.
  13. Web site: Reasonable Grounds to Believe Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Occurred in Israel During 7 October Attacks, Senior UN Official Tells Security Council Meetings Coverage and Press Releases . 13 March 2024 . press.un.org.
  14. News: Lederer . Edith M. . 4 March 2024 . A UN envoy says there are 'reasonable grounds' to believe Hamas committed sexual violence on Oct. 7 . 13 March 2024 . AP News.
  15. Web site: Weiniger . Catherine Philp and Gabrielle . 2024-08-01 . Israel says Hamas weaponised rape. Does the evidence add up? . 2024-08-01 . www.thetimes.com . en.
  16. Web site: 2024-04-24 . UN fails to black list Hamas for rape, Israel condemns decision while US is silent . 2024-05-24 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en.
  17. News: 23 April 2024 . Israel fumes as UN secretary-general leaves Hamas off sexual violence blacklist . Times of Israel.
  18. News: Eichner . Itamar . 2024-04-23 . UN Secretary-General excludes Hamas from conflict-related sexual violence list . 2024-05-24 . Ynetnews . en.
  19. News: 12 April 2024 . EU sanctions Hamas wings over sexual violence on Oct. 7 . 12 April 2024 . Reuters.
  20. News: 12 April 2024 . EU sanctions Hamas wings over sexual violence on Oct. 7 . 12 April 2024 . Al Arabiya.
  21. Web site: Israeli authorities, Palestinian armed groups are responsible for war crimes, other grave violations of international law, UN Inquiry finds. 12 June 2024. United Nations Human Rights.
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  23. News: Rabinowitz . Aaron . 31 January 2024 . Death and Donations: Did the Israeli Volunteer Group Handling the Dead of October 7 Exploit Its Role? . 1 April 2024 . Haaretz.
  24. News: Gupta . Arun . 27 February 2024 . American Media Keep Citing Zaka — Though Its October 7 Atrocity Stories are Discredited in Israel . 1 April 2024 . The Intercept.
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  28. News: 28 November 2023 . Israel Police Presents New Evidence of Sexual Assault by Hamas Terrorists on October 7 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128214140/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-28/ty-article/.premium/israel-police-presents-further-evidence-of-sexual-assault-by-hamas-members-on-october-7/0000018c-169e-dd03-a7ff-bebe1bdb0000 . 28 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en.
  29. Web site: Ben Canaan . Ron . Ziv . Hadas . 26 November 2023 . Grossman . Lital . Shalev . Guy . Proofreading: Nili Alexandrovitz. Background research: Timor Tal. Cover photo: Oren Ziv . Sexual & Gender-Based Violence as a Weapon of War During the October 7, 2023 Hamas Attacks . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127212104/https://www.phr.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/5771_Sexual_Violence_paper_Eng-final.pdf . 27 November 2023 . 4 December 2023 . Physicians for Human Rights Israel. The source's exact date is from www.phr.org.il/en/gender-based-violence-eng/
  30. News: 23 November 2023 . Hamas Raped and Massacred Israeli Women; Is There a Way to Hold Them Legally Accountable? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231126194047/https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/11/23/hamas-raped-and-massacred-israeli-women-is-there-a-way-to-hold-them-legally-accountable/ . 26 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en-US.
  31. News: Lamb . Christina . 2 December 2023 . First Hamas fighters raped her. Then they shot her in the head . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203085844/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/78d415db-37e9-4845-82b3-a1c96094ce79?shareToken=4eb39ad8314d1f875be8d6b497e1e433 . 3 December 2023 . 3 December 2023 . The Times.
  32. News: Ward . Myah . 5 December 2023 . Biden calls world to 'forcefully condemn' sexual violence by Hamas . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212234812/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/05/biden-condemn-sexual-violence-hamas-00130221 . 12 December 2023 . 12 December 2023 . POLITICO.
  33. News: Schecter . Anna . 6 December 2023 . Hamas Rape of Israeli Women Oct. 7 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231210200009/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hamas-rape-israeli-women-oct-7-rcna128221 . 10 December 2023 . 10 December 2023 . NBC News.
  34. News: 22 November 2023 . First Lady Herzog decries 'unforgivable' silence of rights groups over Hamas rapes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125020831/https://www.timesofisrael.com/first-lady-herzog-decries-unforgivable-silence-of-rights-groups-over-hamas-rapes/ . 25 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The Times of Israel.
  35. Web site: 22 November 2023 . The battle to highlight crimes against women in Hamas' attack on Israel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127025048/https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk8tgmina . 27 November 2023 . 2 December 2023 . . en.
  36. Web site: Rosenberg . Michelle . 27 November 2023 . #MeToo Unless Ur A Jew: The activists highlighting Hamas' sexual violence . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215192457/https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/meet-the-activists-highlighting-sexual-violence-during-hamas-attacks-2/ . 15 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . www.jewishnews.co.uk . en-US.
  37. News: Williamson . Lucy . 5 December 2023 . Israel Gaza: Hamas raped and mutilated women on 7 October, BBC hears . 7 December 2023 . BBC News.
  38. News: Gettleman . Jeffrey . Jeffrey Gettleman . Schwartz . Anat . Anat Schwartz . Sella . Adam . Shaar-Yashuv . Avishag . 28 December 2023 . 'Screams Without Words': How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306020559/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html . 6 March 2024 . 5 March 2024 . . en-US . 0362-4331.
  39. Web site: 26 November 2023 . Ignoring the Sexual Violence of October 7 Endangers All Women . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129030606/https://english.tau.ac.il/news/Ignoring_Women_of_Israel . 29 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en-US.
  40. News: Vasilyeva . Nataliya . Kierszenbaum . Quique . 30 December 2023 . Why the full extent of Hamas's sex crimes may never be known . en-GB . . 2 January 2024 . 0307-1235 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240224020852/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/30/truth-about-hamas-sex-crimes-may-never-be-known/ . 24 February 2024.
  41. News: 24 October 2023 . Kill, behead, rape: Interrogated Hamas members detail atrocities against civilians . . live . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231029160226/https://www.timesofisrael.com/kill-behead-rape-interrogated-hamas-members-detail-atrocities-against-civilians/ . 29 October 2023.
  42. News: Is Israel's Military Strategy to Eradicate Hamas Working? . . 18 November 2023 . Schmitt . Eric . Bergman . Ronen . Goldman . Adam . 29 November 2023 . 28 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128042903/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/18/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-war-strategy.html . live.
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  45. News: Picheta . Rob . Families of female Israeli hostages release graphic abduction footage to pile pressure on Netanyahu . . 22 May 2024 . 23 May 2024 .
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  48. https://main.knesset.gov.il/news/pressreleases/pages/press27.11.23j.aspx Knesset News, 27 November 2023, During a discussion in a committee to advance women's status regarding Hamas crimes against women in the 7 October massacre, investigator Lahav 433 revealed 19 inconceivable testimonies: "There were girls there whose pelvises were broken due to the extent of their abuse."
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  63. News: McKernan . Bethan . Israel women's groups warn of failure to keep evidence of sexual violence in Hamas attacks . . 10 November 2023 . 18 May 2024 .
  64. News: Ioanes . Ellen . 23 December 2023 . Why sexual violence in war is so widespread — and under-covered . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114075115/https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/12/23/24012553/why-sexual-violence-in-war-is-so-widespread-and-under-covered . 14 January 2024 . 24 February 2024 . . en.
  65. News: Dayan . Linda . 5 December 2023 . Rape as a Weapon of War: Jewish Women Call on UN to Confront Hamas' Sexual Violence . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205151030/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-05/ty-article/.premium/israeli-and-jewish-women-implore-a-reticent-un-to-confront-hamas-sexual-violence/0000018c-369b-dc03-a9ec-3efbfcb90000 . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . . en.
  66. News: 5 December 2023 . Hamas accused of using rape as weapon of war in Israel in October 7 attack . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205205158/https://abc7chicago.com/hamas-rape-accounts-sexual-assaults-israel-october-7-videos/14142200/ . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . abc.
  67. News: McKernan . Bethan . 18 January 2024 . Evidence points to systematic use of rape and sexual violence by Hamas in 7 October attacks . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306020559/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/18/evidence-points-to-systematic-use-of-rape-by-hamas-in-7-october-attacks . 6 March 2024 . 19 January 2024 . . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  68. News: Glazer . Hilo . 30 November 2023 . The Scope of Hamas' Campaign of Rape Against Israeli Women Is Revealed, Testimony After Testimony . 24 March 2024 . Haaretz. "[W]e are a civil-society organization – not an official state organization"; "We are not an investigative or prosecutorial body."; "Thus far, the commission has not taken testimony directly, but it will begin to do so soon. "We have waited for relevant witnesses to give official evidence to the police, with the intention to then carry out in-depth interviews with them ourselves," she says."; "Among other things, the commission is aiming to obtain recognition in the international arena that the acts committed by Hamas against women and children come under the definition of crimes against humanity."; "She served in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit and went on to study law and political science at Bar-Ilan University. She interned at the State Prosecutor's Office, in the department that handles High Court petitions. After the birth of her first child, she transferred to the international law department. Among other things, she dealt with cases and treaties related to human trafficking, children's rights and prisoner rights."
  69. News: Blaff . Ari . 2 December 2023 . Israeli 'Gender Crimes' Investigator Finds Hamas 'Weaponized' Sexual Assault during Invasion . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204172818/https://www.nationalreview.com/news/israeli-gender-crimes-investigator-finds-hamas-weaponized-sexual-assault-during-invasion/ . 4 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . National Review.
  70. Sexual Crimes in the October 7 War Special Report of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel . Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel . 14–19 . 22 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240228021555/https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/news/arcci-submits-first-report-to-un-21-feb-2024/en/English_Swords_of_Iron_DOCUMENTS_ARCCI%20report%20-%20Hamas%20sexual%20crimes%20on%20october%207.pdf . 28 February 2024.
  71. News: Jeremy . Scahill . Grim . Ryan . Boguslaw . Daniel . The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé . 7 March 2024 . The Intercept . 29 February 2024. The woman who filmed Abdush on October 7 told the Israeli site YNet that Schwartz and Sella had pressured her into giving the paper access to her photos and videos for the purposes of serving Israeli propaganda. "They called me again and again and explained how important it is to Israeli hasbara," she recalled, using the term for public diplomacy, which in practice refers to Israeli propaganda efforts directed at international audiences..
  72. News: Gettleman . Jeffrey . Jeffrey Gettleman . Schwartz . Anat . Anat Schwartz . Sella . Adam . Shaar-Yashuv . Avishag . 28 December 2023 . 'Screams Without Words': How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7 . 5 March 2024 . . en-US . 0362-4331 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306020559/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html . 6 March 2024.
  73. News: In harrowing detail, NYT reports on weaponization of rape, sexual violence on Oct. 7 . . 29 December 2023 . 28 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240302085826/https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-harrowing-detail-nyt-shows-weaponization-of-rape-sexual-violence-during-oct-7/ . 2 March 2024.
  74. News: Turjeman . Meir . "ראיתי בחורה שנאנסה ונשרפה": עדות מטלטלת מזירת הטבח של עדן שצילמה את "האישה בשמלה השחורה" . Horror of the "woman in the black dress": "At first we didn't know about the rape. They desecrated her soul" . 29 February 2024 . . 30 December 2023 . he . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304202217/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bko4dj0va . 4 March 2024.
  75. News: Horror of the "woman in the black dress": "At first we didn't know about the rape. They desecrated her soul." . Turgeman. Meir. 11 March 2024 . . 31 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227151623/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyfwvej006 . 27 February 2024.
  76. News: Horror of the "woman in the black dress": "At first we didn't know about the rape. They desecrated her soul." . Turgeman . Meir . 11 March 2024 . . 31 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227151623/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyfwvej006 . 27 February 2024.
  77. Web site: 2024-01-03 . Family of key case in New York Times October 7 sexual violence report renounces story, says reporters manipulated them . 2024-08-20 . Mondoweiss . en-US.
  78. News: Scahill . Jeremy . Jeremy Scahill . Grim . Ryan . Ryan Grim . Boguslaw . Daniel . 29 February 2024 . The Story Behind the New York Times October 7 Exposé . https://web.archive.org/web/20240305070217/https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/ . 5 March 2024 . 29 February 2024 . . She had also spoken about other violence on October 7, telling the Daily Mail in October, "A baby was cut out of a pregnant woman and beheaded and then the mother was beheaded." No pregnant woman died that day, according to the official Israeli list of those killed in the attacks, and the independent research collective October 7 Fact Check said Mendes's story was false..
  79. News: Leibovitz . Liel . 8 October 2023 . Eyewitness Account of the Rave Massacre . . 29 November 2023 . 28 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128025147/https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/israel-music-festival-massacre-eyewitness-account . live.
  80. News: Gaveriaux . Par Laura-Maï . 26 November 2023 . "Ils ont arrêté lorsqu'ils m'ont crue morte " : le calvaire d'Esther, violée et mutilée par les terroristes du Hamas . "They arrested when they thought I was dead": Esther's ordeal, raped and mutilated by Hamas terrorists. 30 November 2023 . . fr-FR . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129171901/https://www.leparisien.fr/international/israel/israel-le-calvaire-desther-violee-et-mutilee-par-les-terroristes-du-hamas-26-11-2023-MK5HBAQRRZHENBBFEFOI6NDVWI.php . live.
  81. Quote: (1) "A survivor from the Nova party said, 'Everything was an apocalypse of corpses, girls without clothes, people cut in half. People butchered with beheaded heads. They were there. Girls who broke their pelvises from being raped, they were paralyzed."... (2) Rescuer from Nova party: I saw a woman's body from the genital area." Another witness said: They had a section with people's genitals." A witness from the Nova Barai party: I saw someone sitting on her knees, a terrorist spit in her face and then a terrorist shot her in the head. They brought women and a girl's head. There was a situation where they brought someone and then raped her and then transferred her from one to the other. They are dressed as soldiers. There was someone else whose breast was cut by a terrorist. She remembers someone penetrating her and then shooting her in the head." (Hebrew: (2)מחלצת ממסיבת נובה: ראיתי גופת אישה מאזור איבר המין". עדה נוספת סיפרה: היה להם קטע עם אברי מין של אנשים". עדה ממסיבת נובה ברעים: ראיתי מישהי שיושבת על הברכיים, מחבל יורק לה על הפנים ואז מחבל ירה לה בראש. הביאו נשים וראש של ילדה. היתה סיטואציה שהביאו מישהי ואז אנסו אותה ואז מעבירים אותה מאחד לשני. הם מחופשים לחיילים. היתה מישהי נוספת שמחבל חתך לה את השד, זוכרת מישהו חודר אליה ואז יורה לה בראש"(1)")
  82. News: Rozovsky . Par Laura-Liza . 24 July 2024 . Report: Nova Festival Survivor Recounts How Hamas Terrorists Raped Him on October 7. 26 July 2024 . Haaretz. 24 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240724200105/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-07-24/ty-article/.premium/report-nova-festival-survivor-recounts-how-hamas-terrorists-raped-him-on-october-7/00000190-e396-dab4-afb9-f3fe6cff0000 . live.
  83. News: 24 July 2024 . In first, male October 7 survivor recounts rape at hands of Hamas terrorists. 26 July 2024 . Times of Israel. 25 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725015518/https://www.timesofisrael.com/male-october-7-survivor-recounts-rape-at-hands-of-hamas-terrorists/ . live.
  84. News: Tapper . Jake . 18 November 2023 . Israel investigates sexual violence committed by Hamas as part of October 7 horror . 29 November 2023 . . en . 26 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231126232432/https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/17/world/israel-investigates-sexual-violence-hamas/index.html . live.
  85. News: Eichner . Itamar . 25 October 2023 . 'We are acting against savages': Paramedic says found young girls raped, executed by Hamas . en . . 29 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129043543/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byrfpxvm6 . live.
  86. Web site: Schwartz . Anat . התקיפות המיניות בשבעה באוקטובר - אחד ביום. The sexual assaults on 7 October . Omny FM . Google Translate . 7 March 2024 . he . 3 January 2024 .
  87. News: Grim . Jeremy . Scahil . Ryan . Kibbutz Be'eri Rejects Story in New York Times October 7 Exposé: "They Were Not Sexually Abused" . 7 March 2024 . . 4 March 2024 .
  88. News: 4 March 2024 . UN experts say grounds to believe rape occurred in Hamas attack on Israel . .
  89. News: Rasgon . Adam . Odenheimer . Natan . Israeli Soldier's Video Undercuts Medic's Account of Sexual Assault . . 25 March 2024 . 26 March 2024.
  90. News: אפרתי . עידו . 12 October 2023 . "אף אחד לא חלם שנידרש למתחם גדול כל כך": המרכז לזיהוי גופות כורע תחת העומס . "No one dreamed that such a large complex would be required" The body identification center is kneeling under the load . he . . 14 December 2023 . 15 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215192501/https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/education/2023-10-12/ty-article/.premium/0000018b-2067-d680-af9b-22ef6cf80000 . live.
  91. News: Lazaroff . Tovah . 5 December 2023 . Israeli female soldiers shot in crotch, vagina, breasts on October 7 . . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205171831/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-776654 . live.
  92. News: Lubell . Maayan . Rose . Emily . 5 December 2023 . Accounts of sexual violence in Hamas attack mount but justice is remote for Israel's victims . . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205153517/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/accounts-sexual-violence-hamas-attack-mount-justice-is-remote-israels-victims-2023-12-05/ . live.
  93. Rousseau . Daphne . 14 November 2023 . Israel Opens Complex Sexual Abuse Probe Into October 7 Attacks . 5 December 2023 . . 22 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231122081522/https://www.barrons.com/news/israel-opens-complex-sexual-abuse-probe-into-october-7-attacks-d938113c . live.
  94. News: 3 December 2023 . Graphic report details new evidence of rape, sexual violence during October 7 rampage . . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205221539/https://www.timesofisrael.com/graphic-report-details-new-evidence-of-rape-sexual-violence-during-october-7-rampage/ . live.
  95. News: Kottasová . Ivana . 6 December 2023 . What we know about rape and sexual violence inflicted by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel . 2 January 2024 . CNN.
  96. News: 18 November 2023 . October 7 massacre proves #MeToo doesn't apply to Jewish women - opinion . 30 November 2023 . . en-US . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129223844/https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-773642 . live.
  97. News: Carrie . Keller-Lynn . 9 November 2023 . Amid war and urgent need to ID bodies, evidence of Hamas's October 7 rapes slips away . . 29 November 2023 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111231211/https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-war-and-urgent-need-to-id-bodies-evidence-of-hamass-october-7-rapes-slips-away/ . live.
  98. News: 28 October 2023 . Videos of Hamas attack suggest a chilling evolution of jihadist tactics . 29 November 2023 . . Anna . Schecter . 2 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231102132727/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/videos-hamas-attack-suggest-jihadism-evolved-chilling-new-ways-rcna122564 . live.
  99. News: McKernan . Bethan . Israel women's groups warn of failure to keep evidence of sexual violence in Hamas attacks . 8 March 2024 . The Guardian . 10 November 2023.
  100. News: 12 December 2023 . Israeli hostage recalls horrors of Hamas's sexual assaults . 12 December 2023 . . en-US . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212105054/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-777622 . live.
  101. News: 7 December 2023 . Kirby: Safe to assume Hamas is still weaponizing sexual violence . 12 December 2023 . . Tovah . Lazaroff . en-US . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212223248/https://www.jpost.com//israel-news/article-777071 . live.
  102. Web site: Freed hostage says three women told her they were sexually abused . Jewish News Syndicate . 11 December 2023 . 28 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212224751/https://www.jns.org/freed-hostage-says-3-women-told-her-they-were-sexually-abused/ . 12 December 2023.
  103. News: Mednick . Sam . New signs emerge of 'widespread' sexual crimes by Hamas, as Netanyahu alleges global indifference . . 5 December 2023 . 12 December 2023 . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212015158/https://apnews.com/article/sexual-assault-hamas-oct-7-attack-rape-bb06b950bb6794affb8d468cd283bc51 . live.
  104. Web site: 'We know they were raped in Hamas captivity': Chilling details of what hostages faced . 23 December 2023 . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20240218012502/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/12/20/hamas-sexual-violence-rape-hostages-oct-7/71917113007/ . 18 February 2024.
  105. News: 22 December 2023 . Israeli doctors: Many of 30 released female hostages were assaulted in Gaza . en . . 23 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223012030/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryiiliqw6 . 23 December 2023.
  106. News: Taken captive: Karina Ariev, told parents 'continue your lives' . 9 January 2024 . . 27 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207204046/https://www.timesofisrael.com/taken-captive-karina-ariev-told-parents-continue-your-lives/ . 7 February 2024.
  107. News: Taken captive: Agam Berger, seen being led to a car, still dressed in her pajamas . 9 January 2024 . . 12 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214175641/https://www.timesofisrael.com/taken-captive-agam-berger-seen-being-led-to-a-car-still-dressed-in-her-pajamas/ . 14 February 2024.
  108. News: Presumed captive: Daniella Gilboa, identified by the shirt she wore . 9 January 2024 . . 22 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240113172926/https://www.timesofisrael.com/presumed-captive-daniella-gilboa-identified-by-the-shirt-she-wore . 13 January 2024.
  109. News: Daniel . Estrin . Samantha . Balaban . Jaclyn . Diaz . What will it take to free the hostages in Gaza? Many Israelis support a prisoner swap . 9 January 2024 . www.capradio.org . 7 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119145945/https://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=1210775385 . 19 January 2024.
  110. News: . 8 January 2024 . UK's Daily Mail highlights plight of 4 youngest female captives still held by Hamas . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114141316/https://www.timesofisrael.com/uks-daily-mail-highlights-plight-of-4-youngest-female-captives-still-held-by-hamas/ . 14 January 2024.
  111. News: Sella . Uri . 6 January 2024 . Released Gaza hostage tells of trauma, Hamas's sexual violence . 9 January 2024 . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117120431/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-781115 . 17 January 2024.
  112. News: Kingsley . Patrick . Patrick Kingsley (journalist) . Bergman . Ronen . Ronen Bergman . Boxerman . Aaron . Kershner . Isabel . Isabel Kershner . 26 March 2024 . Israeli Hostage Says She Was Sexually Assaulted and Tortured in Gaza . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326195932/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/world/middleeast/hamas-hostage-sexual-assault.html . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . The New York Times.
  113. News: Davidovich . Joshua . Silkoff . Shira . 26 March 2024 . Released hostage Amit Soussana tells NYT she was sexually assaulted by Hamas captor in Gaza . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326175027/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/released-hostage-amit-soussana-tells-nyt-she-was-sexually-assaulted-by-hamas-captor-in-gaza/ . 26 March 2024 . 26 March 2024 . The Times of Israel.
  114. News: 21 February 2024 . Israeli rape crisis centres demand UN action over Oct. 7 attacks . . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240306170312/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-rape-crisis-centres-demand-un-action-over-oct-7-attacks-2024-02-21/ . 6 March 2024 . 21 February 2024 . live .
  115. News: 21 February 2024 . Hamas Sexual Violence 'Systematic and Deliberate' During and After October 7, New Israeli Report Says . 21 February 2024 . . en . https://web.archive.org/web/20240221122738/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-21/ty-article/.premium/hamas-sexual-violence-systematic-and-deliberate-new-israeli-report-says/0000018d-cad6-d09f-a3df-eaf609c30000 . 21 February 2024.
  116. News: 21 February 2024 . Rape and sexual assault took place during Hamas attack, Israeli association says . 21 February 2024 . . en-US . 0190-8286 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240306170338/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/21/israel-palestinians-hamas-sexual-assault-gaza-war/fadd762c-d0d2-11ee-ac8b-765284b5203e_story.html . 6 March 2024 . live .
  117. News: 21 February 2024 . 'Many victims' bodies found mutilated and bound, some discovered deliberately booby-trapped' . 21 February 2024 . . en.
  118. News: Moaveni . Azadeh . 2024-05-09 . What They Did to Our Women . 2024-08-01 . London Review of Books . en . 46 . 09 . 0260-9592.
  119. News: Moaveni . Azadeh . 9 May 2024 . What They Did to Our Women . 27 July 2024 . London Review of Books . en . 46 . 09 . 0260-9592.
  120. News: Fassihi . Farnaz . Kershner . Isabel . 4 March 2024 . U.N. Team Finds Grounds to Support Reports of Sexual Violence in Hamas Attack . 5 March 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  121. News: Borger . Julian . 4 March 2024 . UN finds 'convincing information' that Hamas raped and tortured Israeli hostages . 5 March 2024 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  122. News: UN team says Hamas likely carried out sexual violence in Israel on 7 October . 5 March 2024 . . 5 March 2024.
  123. News: Schwartz . Felicia . Shotter . James . UN finds 'grounds to believe' Hamas committed sexual violence on October 7 . 14 March 2024 . . 4 March 2024 . https://archive.today/20240304221139/https://www.ft.com/content/420fbea6-cf90-41f7-986e-0e7162aef436 . 4 March 2024.
  124. News: UN experts say "grounds" to believe sexual violence occured during Oct. 7 attacks . 13 March 2024 . . 13 March 2024.
  125. News: 5 March 2024 . UN envoy says there are 'reasonable grounds to believe' Hamas committed sexual violence during October 7 attacks on Israel . 5 March 2024 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  126. Web site: Besheer . Margaret . UN Mission Says It Has 'Clear and Convincing' Information That Hamas Sexually Violated Women. . 13 March 2024. 4 March 2024.
  127. News: DeYoung . Karen . Westfall . Sammy . U.N. report: 'Convincing' information Hamas raped, tortured hostages . 5 March 2024 . . 4 March 2024 . https://archive.today/20240305120830/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/04/hamas-rape-un-report-hostages/. 5 March 2024.
  128. News: Ioanes . Ellen . What the UN report on October 7 sexual violence does — and doesn't — say . 13 March 2024 . . 8 March 2024.
  129. Web site: Weiniger . Catherine Philp and Gabrielle . 27 July 2024 . Israel says Hamas weaponised rape. Does the evidence add up? . 27 July 2024 . www.thetimes.com . en.
  130. Web site: Israeli authorities, Palestinian armed groups are responsible for war crimes, other grave violations of international law, UN Inquiry finds. 12 June 2024. United Nations Human Rights.
  131. Web site: Israeli authorities, Palestinian armed groups are responsible for war crimes, other grave violations of international law, UN Inquiry finds. 12 June 2024. United Nations Human Rights.
  132. News: Report by UN-backed experts cites crimes by Israeli forces, Palestinian militants starting Oct. 7. The Associated Press. 12 June 2024.
  133. News: U.N. Report Accuses Both Israel and Palestinian Groups of War Crimes. The New York Times. 12 June 2024. Nick. Cumming-Bruce.
  134. News: Inquiry says Israel and Hamas have both committed war crimes since October 7. CNN. 12 June 2024. Sugam. Pokharel. Catherine. Nicholls. Jessie. Yeung. Jomana. Karadsheh.
  135. Web site: Israeli authorities, Palestinian armed groups are responsible for war crimes, other grave violations of international law, UN Inquiry finds. 12 June 2024. United Nations Human Rights.
  136. Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 12 June 2024.
  137. Web site: Gender-Based Violence as a Weapon of War during the October 7 Hamas Attacks . רופאים לזכויות אדם . 26 November 2023 . 26 April 2024 .
  138. Chotiner . Isaac . How Hamas Used Sexual Violence on October 7th . . 10 December 2023 . 26 April 2024 .
  139. Web site: assaf . 6 May 2024 . Physicians for Human Rights Israel's Clarification on the Organization's November 2023 Position Paper on Sexual Violence . 16 June 2024 . רופאים לזכויות אדם . en-US .
  140. Web site: Botbol . Amelie . Hebrew U. expert wins Israel Prize for raising awareness of Hamas atrocities . JNS.org . 21 March 2024 . 21 April 2024.
  141. Web site: Gender and Sustainability Studies . Dvora Institute . 11 December 2018 . 21 April 2024 .
  142. Web site: Screams Before Silence - YouTube . 27 April 2024 . www.youtube.com.
  143. Web site: 26 April 2024 . Sheryl Sandberg's harrowing documentary exposes Hamas sex crimes . 27 April 2024 . ctech . en.
  144. Sheryl Sandberg's new documentary: Hamas & sexual violence CNN . 12 February 2024 . en . 27 April 2024 . edition.cnn.com.
  145. News: נצ'ין . איתן . 27 April 2024 . הסרט של שריל סנדברג מתעד את האלימות המינית של חמאס: "הם עשו שיעורי בית" . 27 April 2024 . הארץ . he.
  146. Web site: Ghert-Zand . Renee . 26 April 2024 . Sheryl Sandberg's new film testifies to Hamas's brutal sexual violence on October 7 . The Times of Israel.
  147. News: Kottasová . Ivana . 6 December 2023 . What we know about rape and sexual violence inflicted by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel . 5 February 2024 . . en .
  148. News: Rabinowitz . Aaron . Death and Donations: Did the Israeli Volunteer Group Handling the Dead of October 7 Exploit Its Role? . 6 February 2024 . . 31 January 2024 . en . In the meantime, Zaka volunteers were there. Most of them worked at the sites of murder and destruction from morning to night. However, according to witness accounts, it becomes clear that others were engaged in other activities entirely. As part of the effort to get media exposure, Zaka spread accounts of atrocities that never happened, released sensitive and graphic photos, and acted unprofessionally on the ground. .
  149. News: ZAKA exploited Hamas's October 7 attack to campaign for donations – report Volunteers who worked alongside ZAKA accuse members of creating . 10 February 2024 . . 6 February 2024 . The unit's soldiers, as well as volunteers from other organizations, accused ZAKA volunteers of spreading stories of horrors that didn't happen, releasing sensitive and graphic photos to shock people into donating, and being unprofessional in a bid for screen time. .
  150. Web site: Goldenberg . Tia . Frankel . Julia . How 2 debunked accounts of sexual violence on Oct. 7 fueled a global dispute over Israel-Hamas war . Associated Press . 22 May 2024 . 17 June 2024.
  151. News: Sullivan . Becky . 8 March 2024 . An Israeli responder's work on Oct. 7 shows the challenges of investigating atrocities . 8 March 2024 . .
  152. News: Hays . Gabriel . 5 November 2023 . Ex-Bernie Sanders aide slammed for saying accounts of Israeli women raped by Hamas are 'Zionist' propaganda . 12 February 2024 . .
  153. News: 4 January 2024 . Mass rape by Hamas on Oct 7? NYT coverage questioned by Max Blumenthal: Rising debated . 12 February 2024 . The Hill.
  154. News: Pollitt . Katha . 15 December 2023 . Why Have Feminists Been So Slow to Condemn the Hamas Rapes? . 12 February 2024 .
  155. News: 19 November 2023 . United Nations slammed for silence over Hamas rapes, mutilation and murder of Israeli women, critics say . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127024452/https://news.yahoo.com/united-nations-slammed-silence-over-174157036.html . 27 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en-US.
  156. News: Botbol . Amelie . 23 November 2023 . Global women's rights groups silent as Israeli women testify about rapes by Hamas . . live . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129161152/https://www.timesofisrael.com/global-womens-rights-groups-silent-as-israeli-women-testify-about-rapes-by-hamas/ . 29 November 2023.
  157. News: Berman . Nora . 27 November 2023 . Israeli women were raped and widowed by Hamas. Now the world ignores and mocks their suffering . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128082757/https://forward.com/opinion/571297/israeli-women-rape-hamas-widow/ . 28 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en.
  158. Web site: 27 November 2023 . Israel criticizes UN for ambiguous stance on October 7 assault cases . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127162614/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/1701080115-israel-criticizes-un-for-ambiguous-stance-on-october-7-assault-cases . 27 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . I24news . en.
  159. Web site: 30 October 2023 . "Israeli women are under brutal attack and there is complete silence" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231120202921/https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjxrkypma . 20 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en.
  160. News: Adkins . Laura E. . 27 November 2023 . The women's movement has a double standard when sexual violence happens to Jews . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128082756/https://forward.com/opinion/571308/me-too-unless-youre-a-jew-israel-hamas-sexual-violence/ . 28 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . . en.
  161. News: 22 November 2023 . First Lady Herzog decries 'unforgivable' silence of rights groups over Hamas rapes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125020831/https://www.timesofisrael.com/first-lady-herzog-decries-unforgivable-silence-of-rights-groups-over-hamas-rapes/ . 25 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The Times of Israel.
  162. News: 22 November 2023 . Michal Herzog slams women's groups for silence on Hamas rapes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130125849/https://www.jns.org/michal-herzog-slams-womens-groups-for-silence-on-hamas-rapes/ . 30 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . Jewish News Syndicate.
  163. News: Hajdenberg . Jackie . 28 November 2023 . Amid outcry over silence, UN Women posts, then deletes, condemnation of Hamas attack . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128194239/https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-outcry-over-silence-un-women-posts-then-deletes-condemnation-of-hamas-attack/ . 28 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The Times of Israel.
  164. Web site: Rosenberg . Michelle . 27 November 2023 . #MeToo Unless Ur A Jew: The activists highlighting Hamas' sexual violence . 29 November 2023 . www.jewishnews.co.uk . en-US.
  165. News: 14 November 2023 . 'Where are you?' - Israeli hostage families urge women's groups to speak up . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130031917/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/where-are-you-israeli-hostage-families-urge-womens-groups-speak-up-2023-11-13/ . 30 November 2023 . 30 November 2023 . . en.
  166. Web site: NCJW, Israel Women's Network, and 140+ Women's Organizations Call for Urgent Action - Response to UN Women's Statement of October 13 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215192459/https://www.ncjw.org/news/ncjw-israel-womens-network-and-140-womens-organizations-call-for-urgent-action-response-to-un-womens-statement-of-october-13/ . 15 December 2023 . 30 November 2023 . . en.
  167. News: 23 November 2023 . Crimes sexuels du Hamas en Israël : l'inquiétant silence des organisations internationales . Hamas sex crimes in Israel: the worrying silence of international organizations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129000406/https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/crimes-sexuels-du-hamas-en-israel-l-inquietant-silence-des-organisations-internationales-23-11-2023-2544251_24.php . 29 November 2023 . 30 November 2023 . . fr.
  168. News: Rosman . Katherine . Lerer . Lisa . 5 December 2023 . Accounts of Sexual Violence by Hamas Are Aired Amid Criticism of U.N. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205024621/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-sexual-violence-un.html . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . . en-US . 0362-4331.
  169. News: Maltz . Judy . 27 November 2023 . Prominent Israeli Human Rights Group Urges ICC Probe of Hamas for Rape and Other Sex Crimes . subscription . live . https://archive.today/20231127160957/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-11-27/ty-article/.premium/prominent-israeli-rights-group-urges-icc-probe-of-hamas-for-rape-and-other-sex-crimes/0000018c-1168-dd03-a7ff-bf78860e0000 . 27 November 2023 . 29 November 2023 . Haaretz.
  170. Web site: 23 November 2023 . MeToo unless you're a Jew . 21 February 2024 . Jewish Women's Aid . en .
  171. Web site: 2023 . 2023 Top Ten Worst Global Anti-Semitic Incidents . 21 February 2024 . .
  172. News: 4 December 2023 . MeToo, for Israeli victims too: Gaza war drives wedge between French feminists . 5 December 2023 . . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205011537/https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231204-metoo-for-israeli-victims-too-gaza-war-drives-wedge-between-french-feminists . live.
  173. News: 2 December 2023 . After 8 weeks, UN Women condemns Hamas' sexual violence on October 7 . 2 December 2023 . . en .
  174. Web site: 1 December 2023 . UN Women statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202140057/https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2023/12/un-women-statement-on-the-situation-in-israel-and-gaza . 2 December 2023 . 2 December 2023 . UN Women – Headquarters . en.
  175. News: גלאון . זהבה . 4 December 2023 . כעת יותר מתמיד זה זועק: דרושות נשים בהנהגה . Now more than ever it cries out: women are needed in leadership . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205044116/https://www.haaretz.co.il/opinions/2023-12-04/ty-article-opinion/.premium/0000018c-2f20-da74-afce-aff9ef590000 . 5 December 2023 . 4 December 2023 . . he.
  176. News: 4 December 2023 . Protesters outside United Nations highlight sex assaults of women during Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205071935/https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/protest-u-n-headquarters-sex-assaults-women-oct-7-hamas-attack-israel/ . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . . en-US.
  177. News: Lecker . Maya . 3 December 2023 . Israeli Women Raped by Hamas Terrorists Shouldn't Need a Hashtag . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204154554/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2023-12-03/ty-article/.highlight/israeli-women-raped-by-hamas-terrorists-shouldnt-need-a-hashtag/0000018c-312c-d5f2-a5cc-773c2e490000 . 4 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . . en.
  178. Web site: 4 December 2023 . Jewish women march on UN over October 7 attacks on Israel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204165905/http://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231204-jewish-women-march-on-un-over-october-7-attacks-on-israel . 4 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . . en.
  179. News: Moaveni . Azadeh . 2024-05-09 . What They Did to Our Women . 2024-08-01 . London Review of Books . en . 46 . 09 . 0260-9592.
  180. News: Moaveni . Azadeh . 2024-05-09 . What They Did to Our Women . 2024-08-01 . London Review of Books . en . 46 . 09 . 0260-9592.
  181. News: Moaveni . Azadeh . 2024-05-09 . What They Did to Our Women . 2024-08-01 . London Review of Books . en . 46 . 09 . 0260-9592.
  182. News: 30 November 2023 . Guterres: 'Accounts of sexual violence on Oct. 7 must be investigated' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130012323/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-775770 . 30 November 2023 . 30 November 2023 . . en-US.
  183. Web site: 29 November 2023 . Reporting on Resolution 2712 (2023) Implementation, Secretary-General Warns Security Council People of Gaza in Midst of Epic Humanitarian Catastrophe . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201172613/https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/reporting-resolution-2712-2023-implementation-secretary-general-warns-security-council-people-gaza-midst-epic-humanitarian-catastrophe . 1 December 2023 . 30 November 2023 . . en.
  184. News: Moloney . Marita . 5 December 2023 . Hamas planned sexual violence as weapon of war - Israeli campaigner . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208005915/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67613153 . 8 December 2023 . 7 December 2023 . BBC News.
  185. News: Farge . Emma . 29 November 2023 . UN commission to investigate Hamas sexual violence, appeal for evidence . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130015508/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-commission-investigate-hamas-sexual-violence-appeal-evidence-2023-11-29/ . 30 November 2023 . 30 November 2023 . . en.
  186. Web site: 30 November 2023 . ru:Гутерриш признал доказательства сексуального насилия со стороны ХАМАСа . Guterrish priznal dokazatel'stva seksual'nogo nasiliya so storony KHAMASa . Guterres admits evidence of sexual abuse by Hamas . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130184300/https://www.newsru.co.il/world/30nov2023/g_105.html . 30 November 2023 . 30 November 2023 . NEWSru.co.il . ru.
  187. News: Benari . Elad . 1 December 2023 . Ambassador Erdan: Israel has zero trust in antisemitic UN Commission of Inquiry . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202215702/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/381237 . 2 December 2023 . 2 December 2023 . Israel National News.
  188. News: 8 January 2024 . UN experts demand accountability for sexual torture during Hamas attacks . . "The growing body of evidence about reported sexual violence is particularly harrowing," ... the statement referred to allegations of sexual torture including rape and gang rape as well as mutilations and gunshots to genital areas. .
  189. News: 8 January 2024 . UN experts seek justice for Hamas 'sexual torture' . 8 January 2024 . . 0013-0389 .
  190. News: 8 January 2024 . UN experts demand accountability for sexual torture during Hamas attacks . 8 January 2024 . . en-US .
  191. News: 16 January 2024 . UN chief calls for investigation into Hamas sexual violence claims . 17 January 2024 . .
  192. News: Ghert-Zand . Renee . 16 January 2024 . Israel forbids doctors from speaking to UN group investigating Oct. 7 atrocities . 17 January 2024 . .
  193. News: 26 January 2024 . UN to investigate acts of rape committed by Hamas terrorists . 26 January 2024 . . en-US . https://web.archive.org/web/20240306180805/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-783839 . 6 March 2024.
  194. News: Borger . Julian . 4 March 2024 . UN finds 'convincing information' that Hamas raped and tortured Israeli hostages . 5 March 2024 . . en-GB . 0261-3077 .
  195. 4 March 2024 . Mission Report: Official visit of the Office of the SRSG-SVC to Israel and the occupied West Bank: 29 January – 14 February 2024 . .
  196. News: Ivanov . Jennifer . U of A fires director of Sexual Assault Centre for signing letter questioning attacks on Israeli women . 7 December 2023 . Global News . 18 November 2023 . 27 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231127095014/https://globalnews.ca/news/10101350/u-of-a-fires-director-of-sexual-assault-centre-for-signing-letter-questioning-attacks-on-israeli-women/ . live.
  197. News: Edelson . Daniel . 19 November 2023 . Women's advocate fired from Canadian university over Hamas rape denials . en . . live . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231124061026/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1k6xldnt . 24 November 2023.
  198. News: Head of Canadian Sexual Assault Center Fired for Questioning Accounts of Hamas Raping Israeli Women . en . . 29 November 2023 . 20 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231120201200/https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/americas/2023-11-19/ty-article/.premium/head-of-canadian-sexual-assault-center-fired-for-questioning-accounts-of-hamas-rapes/0000018b-e7f8-d05f-a5eb-e7f8d6c80000 . live.
  199. News: 3 November 2023 . Yale paper apologizes for 'correction' on story about Hamas rape . 29 November 2023 . . en-US . 29 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129012120/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-771493 . live.
  200. News: The Washington Post isn't sure Hamas engaged in mass rape . 12 February 2024 . Jewish News Service .
  201. News: Pacchiani . Gianluca . 1 January 2024 . Hamas denies NYT report of rape on Oct. 7, claims Israeli women received 'good treatment' . .
  202. News: 6 December 2023 . Israel has levelled shocking allegations of sexual violence against Hamas. Here's what we know . . Hamas officials have denied them, saying any sexual atrocities were committed by other armed groups that crossed into Israel after Hamas militants breached the Gaza border fence. .
  203. Web site: 4 January 2024 . NYT facing scrutiny after Oct. 7 victim's family challenge report . 4 January 2024 . Arab News . en .
  204. News: Gettleman . Jeffrey . Jeffrey Gettleman . Schwartz . Anat . Anat Schwartz . Sella . Adam . 29 January 2024 . U.N. to Study Reports of Sexual Violence in Israel During Oct. 7 Attack . 1 February 2024 . . en-US . 0362-4331 .
  205. Web site: 11 March 2024 . Stung by criticism, Ottawa to give $1M to support victims of sexual violence by Hamas . 12 March 2024 . CTVNews.
  206. News: Kinery . Emma . 10 October 2023 . Biden condemns 'terror and bloodshed' by Hamas, says the U.S. will continue to support Israel . 2 January 2024 . .
  207. Web site: House . The White . 10 October 2023 . Remarks by President Biden on the Terrorist Attacks in Israel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016013458/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/10/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel-2/ . 16 October 2023 . 29 November 2023 . The White House . en-US.
  208. News: Botbol . Amelie . 5 December 2023 . Israel-led UN special session condemns world silence on Hamas using rape as weapon of war . . 5 December 2023 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205221600/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-led-un-special-session-condemns-world-silence-on-hamas-using-rape-as-weapon-of-war/ . live.
  209. News: Thorbecke . Catherine . 4 December 2023 . Sheryl Sandberg: Rape should never be used as an act of war . 5 December 2023 . . 4 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204214720/https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/04/tech/sheryl-sandberg-un-israel-hamas/index.html . live.
  210. Web site: Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson . 4 December 2023 . Department Press Briefing . 5 December 2023 . . en-US . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205013529/https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-december-4-2023/ . live.
  211. Web site: 5 December 2023 . Biden urges global condemnation of Hamas 'sexual violence' . 5 December 2023 . France 24.
  212. News: Ward . Myah . 5 December 2023 . Biden calls world to 'forcefully condemn' sexual violence by Hamas . 12 December 2023 . . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212234812/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/05/biden-condemn-sexual-violence-hamas-00130221 . live.
  213. News: Forrest . Jack . Fossum . Sam . 10 December 2023 . Blinken calls sexual violence inflicted by Hamas 'beyond anything I've seen' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231214142025/https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/10/politics/cnn-tv-antony-blinken-hamas-sexual-violence/index.html . 14 December 2023 . 14 December 2023 . CNN.
  214. News: חדשות . 12 December 2023 . סנאטורים אמריקנים למזכ"ל האו"ם: פתח בחקירת זוועות חמאס ב-7 באוקטובר . he . . 12 December 2023 . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212214933/https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/sknvyyiit . live.
  215. News: 12 December 2023 . Senators call for U.N. to open independent probe into Hamas and sexual violence . 12 December 2023 . . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212214933/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-call-un-open-independent-probe-hamas-sexual-violence-rcna129187 . live.
  216. News: EU sanctions Hamas wings over sexual violence on Oct. 7 . 12 April 2024 . Reuters . 12 April 2024.
  217. News: 12 April 2024 . EU sanctions Hamas wings over sexual violence on Oct. 7 . 12 April 2024 . Al Arabiya.
  218. Web site: 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel: Council sanctions three entities over widespread sexual and gender-based violence . 12 April 2024 . Council of the European Union.
  219. Web site: Kottasová . Ivana . 20 May 2024 . EXCLUSIVE: ICC seeks arrest warrants against Sinwar and Netanyahu for war crimes over October 7 attack and Gaza war . 20 May 2024 . CNN.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sexual and gender-based violence in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel".

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