Israeli Rape-Disaster Group Report Finds ‘Systematic’ Sexual Violence On and After Oct. 7

An Israeli group that helps survivors of sexual abuse released a report on Wednesday that concluded that acts of sexual violence towards Israelis throughout and after the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7 have been “systematic and widespread.”

“The report finds that the Hamas attack included brutal acts of violent rape, often involving threats with weapons, specifically directed towards injured women,” 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.

“Often, the rape was perpetrated in front of an audience — partners, family or friends — in a manner intended to increase the pain and humiliation of all present,” the report mentioned.

The attackers “cut and mutilated sexual organs and other body parts with knives,” the report mentioned.

The report asserted that its data and evaluation “clearly demonstrates that sexual abuse was not an isolated incident or sporadic cases but rather a clear operational strategy.”

Based mostly on evaluation of the knowledge collected by the group, the report concluded that intercourse crimes have been dedicated towards folks at a rave website, in kibbutzim and at navy bases and towards 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 pattern 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 known as it part of Israel’s try to justify the killing of Palestinian civilians.

Hamas has maintained that its fighters’ “religion, values and culture” forbid such acts, and that, as Muslims, they’re “honor-bound to respect and protect all women.” 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 reviews of sexual violence as a part of the Oct. 7 assault. In late January, a U.N. team visited Israel to examine these reports, led by Pramila Patten, the U.N. secretary-general’s particular consultant on sexual violence in battle.

Orit Sulitzeanu, the chief director of the Affiliation of Rape Disaster Facilities in Israel, mentioned in a information launch that the report was submitted to resolution makers on the U.N. “Silence is no longer an option,” she mentioned. “We expect international organizations to take a clear stance; we cannot stand on the sidelines.”