UN: Sexual Violence Likely Occurred in Oct. 7 Attack

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Facts

  • A UN investigation found 'convincing information' that Hamas has committed rape and sexualized torture against Israeli hostages, adding that there were 'reasonable grounds to believe' Hamas used sexual violence during its Oct. 7 attack.1
  • The report follows an investigation led by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. It cited indications of sexual violence near Kibbutz Re'im. Hamas has denied that it has committed any sexual violence.2
  • The UN team visited Israel from Jan. 29 to Feb. 14, during which they held 33 meetings with Israeli institutions and interviewed 34 survivors and witnesses of the attack. They were reportedly unable to interview victims of sexual violence 'despite concerted efforts.'3
  • Besides Kibbutz Re'im, the team of nine UN experts, who also studied 50 hours of video and 5K photos, found indications of sexual violence at the site of the Nova music festival and Road 232. They also believe sexual violence against hostages still in Gaza 'may be ongoing.'4
  • The report, however, did add that certain previous claims — one of genital mutilation and another of the murder of a pregnant woman — were 'unfounded.'4
  • Regarding why Israel struggled to collect such evidence in the immediate aftermath of the attack, the report said first responders were trained to collect body parts for funerals rather than process crime scenes. It also called to investigate Palestinian claims of sexual violence committed by Israeli forces, which Israel said would create an 'intolerable equivalence.'5

Sources: 1UN.org, 2New York Times, 3Al Jazeera, 4Jerusalem Post and 5wsj.com.

Narratives

  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. It took the UN far too long to acknowledge the sexually abusive nature of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, but this report is nevertheless welcomed proof of the group's myriad of atrocities. Importantly, it's not biased toward Israel in any way, as the UN also describes allegations on both sides. What matters now is that the world is finally listening to what Israel has been saying since Oct. 7 — Hamas used rape as a weapon of war.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Intercept. Investigating war crimes is a painstaking process that takes time, and the UN was doing its due diligence in acquiring documented evidence amidst an information warfare environment. However, while there is no denying or justifying the unspeakable sexual violence committed against Israeli civilians by Hamas, this report does not absolve Israel of the extraordinary atrocities it is continuing to commit in Gaza. Both must be held to account, and this must not be used to deflect from Israel's crimes.