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Content material warning: This text incorporates references to rape and sexual assault.
There are “affordable 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 therapy, 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 navy targets all through the Gaza periphery, the mission crew discovered that there are affordable grounds to consider that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in a number of places throughout 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 web site and its environment, Street 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 return ahead and testify, none did.
Nonetheless, members of the mission had been capable of interview survivors and witnesses of the 7 October assaults, in addition to members of the well being companies.
They seen 5,000 images and 50 hours of footage of the assaults.
They had been additionally capable of speak to a few of these hostages who had been launched.
Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas’ 7 October assault wherein greater than 1,200 individuals, together with an estimated 30 youngsters, had been killed and over 200 hostages taken, based on the Israeli authorities.
Greater than 30,410 individuals have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, principally ladies and youngsters, based on the well being ministry in Gaza.
The 7 October assault was a big escalation within the long-standing battle between Israel and Hamas.
In case you or somebody you already know 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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