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Content material warning: This text incorporates references to rape and sexual assault.
There are “cheap grounds to consider” rapes had been dedicated throughout Hamas’ 7 October assaults on Israel and that hostages subsequently taken to Gaza have additionally been raped, a UN report stated on Tuesday.
UN Particular Consultant on Sexual Violence in Battle Pramila Patten discovered “clear and convincing data” that some hostages had been raped, and believes “that such violence could also be ongoing in opposition to these nonetheless held.”
“Credible circumstantial data, which can be indicative of some types of sexual violence, together with genital mutilation, sexualised torture, or merciless, inhuman and degrading remedy, was additionally gathered,” learn the 24-page UN report.
Because the UN confronted criticism for reacting too slowly to the rapes and sexual violence that Israel accuses Hamas of committing on 7 October, Patten, accompanied by specialists, visited Israel and the West Financial institution for 2 and a half weeks in early February.
“Within the context of the coordinated assault by Hamas and different armed teams in opposition to civilian and army targets all through the Gaza periphery, the mission group discovered that there are cheap grounds to consider that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in a number of places through the 7 October assaults, together with rape and gang-rape,” the report stated.
These occurred in not less than three places — the Nova music pageant website and its environment, Highway 232, and Kibbutz Re’im, it added.
“In most of those incidents, victims first subjected to rape had been then killed, and not less than two incidents relate to the rape of ladies’s corpses,” the report stated.
Regardless of requires victims of sexual violence to come back ahead and testify, none did.
Nevertheless, members of the mission had been in a position to interview survivors and witnesses of the 7 October assaults, in addition to members of the well being providers.
They considered 5,000 pictures and 50 hours of footage of the assaults.
They had been additionally in a position to discuss to a few of these hostages who had been launched.
Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas’ 7 October assault through which greater than 1,200 folks, together with an estimated 30 kids, had been killed and over 200 hostages taken, in accordance with the Israeli authorities.
Greater than 30,410 folks have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, largely ladies and youngsters, in accordance with the well being ministry in Gaza.
The 7 October assault was a big escalation within the long-standing battle between Israel and Hamas.
For those who or somebody you recognize is impacted by sexual assault, name 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, textual content 0458 737 732, or go to . In an emergency, name 000.
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