An Israeli group that helps survivors of sexual abuse launched a report on Wednesday that concluded that acts of sexual violence in opposition to Israelis throughout and after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7 had been “systematic and widespread.”
“The report finds that the Hamas assault included brutal acts of violent rape, usually involving threats with weapons, particularly directed in direction of injured girls,” mentioned the group, The Affiliation of Rape Disaster Facilities in Israel, an umbrella group of 9 such organizations in Israel. The report added that many incidents concerned gang rape.
“Usually, the rape was perpetrated in entrance of an viewers — companions, household or buddies — in a fashion supposed to extend the ache and humiliation of all current,” the report mentioned.
The attackers “minimize and mutilated sexual organs and different physique elements with knives,” the report mentioned.
The report asserted that its info and evaluation “clearly demonstrates that sexual abuse was not an remoted incident or sporadic instances however quite a transparent operational technique.”
Primarily based on evaluation of the knowledge collected by the group, the report concluded that intercourse crimes had been dedicated in opposition to folks at a rave website, in kibbutzim and at navy bases and in opposition to hostages held in Gaza.
The report was primarily based on testimonies, interviews with first responders and articles, together with a monthslong investigation printed by The New York Occasions in late December, which documented a sample of gender-based violence within the Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault.
Hamas has repeatedly denied that its fighters perpetrated sexual violence on Oct. 7. As an illustration, three days after the Occasions investigation was printed, Hamas mentioned in an announcement that the group’s leaders “categorically deny such allegations” and referred to as it part of Israel’s try and justify the killing of Palestinian civilians.
Hamas has maintained that its fighters’ “faith, values and tradition” forbid such acts, and that, as Muslims, they’re “honor-bound to respect and shield all girls.” The group has mentioned it welcomes any worldwide inquiries into allegations of sexual violence.
Israeli activists and their allies have expressed frustration at worldwide organizations just like the United Nations for gradual responses to stories of sexual violence as a part of the Oct. 7 assault. In late January, a U.N. group visited Israel to look at these stories, led by Pramila Patten, the U.N. secretary-general’s particular consultant on sexual violence in battle.
Orit Sulitzeanu, the manager director of the Affiliation of Rape Disaster Facilities in Israel, mentioned in a information launch that the report was submitted to determination makers on the U.N. “Silence is not an choice,” she mentioned. “We count on worldwide organizations to take a transparent stance; we can not stand on the sidelines.”
