Report from Israel's Rape-Crisis Group finds 'systematic' sexual violence on and after October 7
An Israeli organization that supports survivors of sexual abuse released a report concluded on Wednesday that acts of sexual violence against Israelis during and after the Hamas-led attack on October 7 were “systematic and widespread.”
“The report shows that Hamas's attack included brutal acts of violent rape, often involving gun threats, specifically targeting wounded women,” said the group, The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, an umbrella organization of nine such organizations in Israel. . The report added that many incidents involved gang rape.
“Often the rape was committed in front of an audience – partners, family or friends – in a manner intended to increase the pain and humiliation of all present,” the report said.
The attackers also “cut and mutilated genitals and other body parts with knives,” the report said.
The report claimed that its information and analysis “clearly demonstrates that sexual abuse was not an isolated incident or sporadic cases, but rather a clear operational strategy.”
Based on analysis of information collected by the organization, the report concluded that sexual crimes had been committed against people at a rave venue, in kibbutzim and on military bases, and against hostages in Gaza.
The report was based on testimony, interviews with first responders and articles, including a months-long investigation published by The New York Times in late December that documented a pattern of gender-based violence in the October 7 Hamas-led attack.
Hamas has repeatedly denied that its fighters committed sexual violence on October 7. For example, three days after the publication of the Times investigation, Hamas said in a statement that the group's leaders “categorically deny such allegations” and called it part of Israel's attempt to justify the killing of Palestinian civilians.
Hamas has maintained that its fighters' “religion, values and culture” prohibit such acts, and that they, as Muslims, are “honored to respect and protect all women.” The group has said it welcomes any international investigation into allegations of sexual violence.
Israeli activists and their allies have expressed frustration with international organizations such as the United Nations over slow responses to reports of sexual violence as part of the October 7 attack. In late January, a UN team visited Israel to investigate these reports, led by Pramila Patten, the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Orit Sulitzeanu, executive director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, said in a press release that the report was presented to decision makers at the UN: “Silence is no longer an option,” she said. “We expect international organizations to take a clear position; We cannot remain on the sidelines.”