UN Official: There is Substantial Evidence of Hamas's 'Sexual Violence' in the October 7 Attack

In a recent report on sexual violence amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, the United Nations representative stated on Monday, March 5, that there is substantial evidence to prove the 'sexual violence' perpetrated by Hamas forces during the October 7 attack on Israel. According to the Associated Press, Pramila Patten, who visited Israel and the West Bank from January 29 to February 14 with a nine-member technical team, reported first-hand accounts from hostages freed from Hamas captivity, stating: 'There is clear and compelling evidence that some women and children were subjected to sexual violence, including rape and sexual torture, during their captivity.' In a press conference presenting the report, she emphasized that despite extensive efforts, her team could not meet with victims of Hamas's sexual violence during their stay in Israel. However, they managed to interview 34 individuals, including survivors and witnesses of the October 7 attacks, freed hostages, health officials, and others, gathering their evidence. The UN representative also noted that 'based on the information collected regarding sexual violence related to the conflict during the October 7 attacks, at least in three locations in Gaza, sexual assault and gang rape occurred, and several bodies, completely naked or semi-naked from the waist down, mostly women, were found with their hands bound and gunshot wounds to the head.' Pramila Patten referred to the crimes committed during the attack on the Nova music festival and its surroundings on October 7, stating: 'Some individuals witnessed at least two cases of sexual assault on the bodies of women in this area, and eyewitnesses reported at least two instances of rape of women by Hamas Islamist forces on Route 232, where several bodies with genital injuries and injuries to other body parts were also found.' According to her, the military base 'Nahal Oz,' which served as an information and monitoring center for the fence around Gaza, was also attacked by Hamas forces on October 7, resulting in the deaths of seven male and female soldiers stationed there, while the remaining young female soldiers were abducted and taken to Gaza, raising the possibility of sexual assault against these women as well. Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday for not convening a Security Council meeting to review the findings of this report and for designating Hamas as a 'terrorist organization.' Following the October 7 (15 Mehr) terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 others, Israel launched an assault on Gaza aimed at destroying this militia group supported by the Islamic Republic. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries around the world have listed the Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organization. Israel accused the UN of attempting to 'suppress' the report on Hamas's sexual assaults. The 'Sexual Assault Crisis' organization in Israel revealed: detailed evidence of the 'systematic and deliberate' assaults by Hamas forces. A U.S. Congress representative stated: sexual violence, rape, and brutality are Hamas's strategy against civilians. The UN Secretary-General's representative is going to Israel to gather information on Hamas's sexual violence. UN reporters stated that Hamas must be held accountable for the violence and sexual assault in the attack on Israel. Blinken stated that the sexual violence by Hamas members in the attack on Israel is 'indescribable.'