Rape and torture: UN report on hamas militants' attack on Israel on october 7
Photo: Rape and torture: UN report released on October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel (GettyImages)
During the attack by the Hamas group on Israel on October 7, cases of sexual violence against women were reported. There are also testimonies of rape against hostages in Gaza, informs The Washington Times.
According to a UN report, members of the Palestinian terrorist group committed sexual violence in several locations in southern Israel.
The attacks occurred during raids on the Nova music festival and local communities on October 7. UN representative Pramila Patten reported eyewitness accounts of sexual violence against the bodies of women.
The report noted that some claims were "unsubstantiated." In particular, the story of forcibly removing a fetus from a pregnant woman and the accusation of rape at a military base were debunked.
Patten pointed out instances of sexual violence against women and children held captive, citing testimonies from released hostages. She expressed concern that such incidents may continue.
Patten, along with her team, visited Israel and the West Bank from January to February to gather data for the annual report on sexual violence during conflicts. The Hamas attacks on October 7 resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 people, with around 250 taken hostage. Subsequent Israeli strikes on Gaza led to 30,000 casualties and a severe shortage of food and medicine, according to the statement.
Israel approved the preliminary text of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Now, this agreement needs approval from the Hamas militant group.
International mediators have been working for weeks to reach a ceasefire agreement before the beginning of the month of Ramadan, which falls around March 10. The agreement aims to allow assistance to be provided to hundreds of thousands of residents in the northern Gaza Strip who are facing hunger due to the ongoing hostilities.
A US official revealed that a day before the talks, Israel agreed to a six-week ceasefire and the release by Hamas of vulnerable individuals, the sick, wounded, elderly, and female hostages.
