TEL AVIV, Israel – The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel has recently released a report detailing the alleged systematic and intentional sexual crimes committed by Hamas gunmen during the 7 October attacks. The report claims that these crimes included violent rapes of women conducted collectively or in front of an audience, and has sparked controversy and denials from Hamas.
The report brings to light the horrifying details of the 7 October attacks, during which hundreds from the Palestinian armed group infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of 253 others. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, with the death toll reported at 29,300 by the Hamas-run health ministry. The report also includes a warning about graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence, underscoring the severity of the allegations.
To support its findings, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel gathered evidence from forensic investigations, witness statements, and first responders’ accounts, which they claim demonstrate enough evidence to define the sexual crimes as a crime against humanity. Furthermore, the report details brutal acts of violent rape, threats with weapons, and the intentional humiliation and pain inflicted upon the victims.
The report also alleges that the sexual violence was carried out with identical patterns of action repeated in each attack zone, including the Nova festival, homes in kibbutzim and villages near the Gaza border, and Israeli military bases. Survivors of the Nova festival reported gang rapes, while first responders and volunteer body collectors who went to border communities witnessed signs of sexual violence on women and girls.
The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel has submitted its findings to the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, who is conducting a similar investigation and has visited Israel. The report’s release has left little room for denial or disregard and has prompted independent UN experts to express concern about reports of violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian women and girls in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, leading to a tense exchange of allegations and denials.
The allegations and counter-allegations add an extra layer of complexity to the already fraught situation in the region, stirring controversy and sparking renewed calls for investigation and accountability from the international community. As tensions continue to simmer in the region, the implications of these allegations and the report’s findings on future peace talks and international relations remain to be seen.