United Nations says ‘grounds to believe’ sexual violence took place in Hamas’ October 7 attacks

A team of United Nations experts reported that there were “reasonable grounds to believe” sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred at several locations during the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

The team - led by UN special envoy for sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten - visited Israel between January 29 and February 14 on a mission intended to gather, analyse and verify information on sexual violence linked to the October 7 attacks.

“Credible circumstantial information, which may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including genital mutilation, sexualised torture, or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, was also gathered,” read the 24-page UN report.

Palestinian militant group Hamas has repeatedly rejected accusations of sexual violence.

Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1200 people and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s retaliation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has since killed around 30,000 Palestinians, health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave say.

“The mission team found clear and convincing information that some hostages taken to Gaza have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence and has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing,” the UN report said.

The team said a “fully-fledged investigation” would be required to establish the overall magnitude, scope and specific attribution for the sexual violence.

The UN team said it also received information from institutional and civil society sources and direct interviews, about “sexual violence against Palestinian men and women in detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints” after October 7. The detention centres were in Israel.

The UN team said it raised the allegations with the Israeli Ministry of Justice and Military Advocate General, which said no complaints of sexual violence against members of the Israeli Defense Forces had been received.

Israel has been critical of the UN response to the October 7 attacks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said late last year that sexual violence committed on October 7 “must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” stressing: “Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere.”

“The UN claims to care about women, yet as we speak right now Israeli women are being raped and abused by Hamas terrorists. Where is the UN’s voice? Where is your voice?” Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the 193-member UN General Assembly earlier on Monday.

“Hamas must face unrelenting pressure to end their sexual violence and release all of the hostages immediately,” he said.

Meanwhile Hamas and Egyptian mediators are pressing on with talks in Cairo on securing a ceasefire in Gaza, despite Israel’s decision not to send a delegation.

The ceasefire talks, which began on Sunday, are billed as a final hurdle on the way to securing the first extended ceasefire of the five-month-old war, in time for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday.

Israel has declined to comment publicly on the Cairo talks.