Israeli Report Details Hamas Sexual Violence in October 7 Attacks

A comprehensive report by Israeli researchers from the Dinah Project and Bar-Ilan University has documented extensive sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during and after its October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, describing it as a deliberate weapon of war. Drawing on survivor testimonies, eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and first responders' reports, the study details brutal acts including gang rapes, genital mutilation, forced nudity, and sexual humiliation against both female and male hostages. The report challenges Hamas’s denials, presenting the first legal framework aimed at prosecuting these crimes as crimes against humanity, and seeks to prompt domestic and international legal action, including possible UN sanctions against Hamas. It highlights the difficulty in prosecuting such crimes due to many victims being murdered, thus silenced, but stresses the importance of breaking this silence for justice. Previous UN findings corroborate the presence of systematic sexual violence by Hamas, although some international bodies have been criticized for underreporting these abuses. The report underscores the need for recognition and legal accountability of sexual violence in conflict as part of broader efforts to address war crimes committed during the October 7 massacre.