Israel's 'Sexual Assault Crisis' Association Reveals Evidence of 'Systematic and Deliberate' Assaults by Hamas

The 'Sexual Assault Crisis' Association in Israel announced on Wednesday, February 21, that it has obtained precise evidence of 'systematic and deliberate' sexual assaults and abuse by Hamas forces during the October 7 attack. According to the Associated Press, this association states that the actions of Hamas forces are more widespread than previously thought, and in some cases, sexual assaults were committed in the presence of individuals such as partners, family members, or friends to amplify the pain and humiliation of all present. Solitzano, the executive director of this association, told the Associated Press: 'Identifying victims of sexual assault has been difficult for us because many of them were killed after the assault, or if they survived, they were so affected by the crime of Hamas forces that speaking about sexual abuse was not among their priorities.' According to a report previously submitted by Israel to the United Nations and its inspectors, sexual and gender-based violence by Hamas occurred in four main locations: one at a music festival where over 360 people were killed, another near the Gaza border, Israeli military bases captured by Hamas, and locations where hostages were held in Gaza. Two UN special rapporteurs announced in December that an increasing number of evidence indicates disturbing acts such as sexual torture, gang rapes, mutilation, and shooting in the genital area. These two rapporteurs deemed such actions as 'gross violations of international law' that, according to them, amount to 'war crimes.' Following this report, Pramila Patten, the UN Secretary-General's special representative on sexual violence in conflict, visited Israel on Monday, January 29, at the invitation of the Israeli government to 'gather information on sexual violence' by Hamas militants during the attacks on October 7. Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz stated on February 15, after attending an 'event to raise awareness about the systematic sexual violence of Hamas,' that 'sexual violence, rape, and brutality are Hamas's strategy against civilians.' Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman of the United States, also stated after participating in the 'event to raise awareness about the systematic sexual violence of Hamas' that 'there is evidence of this crime that cannot be denied.' Palestinian militants of Hamas, supported by the Iranian government, killed 1,200 people and took over 240 others hostage during the October 7 attack. About 100 of these hostages were exchanged during a two-week ceasefire in December with convicted Palestinian prisoners in Israel, but over 130 others remain in Hamas captivity.