Hamas' Systematic Rape: New Report Details Oct 7 Violence
A new report, shared with CNN, alleges that Hamas militants systematically used rape and sexual violence against victims during and after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The research, spanning over two years, is based on testimonies from numerous survivors and forensic analysis. Key findings indicate that sexual violence was a calculated strategy, citing multiple incidents, including those at the Nova Music Festival. The report details patterns of abuse, such as mutilation and torture, while also addressing counter-narratives and the challenges of evidence collection in a conflict zone. The findings are supported by multiple international and local expert bodies.
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A landmark report alleges that Hamas militants and their allies systematically perpetrated rape and sexual violence against victims during and after the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The findings, presented to CNN, detail widespread sexual and gender-based violence, characterizing it as a calculated strategy by Hamas.
Key Findings on Sexual Violence
The report, compiled over two years, presents comprehensive evidence of sexual assault against women, men, and children. Lead author and human rights expert Cochav Elkayam-Levy stated that the most significant finding is that sexual violence was a deliberate tactic employed by Hamas.
Testimonies: The report incorporates firsthand accounts from over 10 survivors who endured extreme sexual violence during the attack, abduction, or captivity in Gaza.
New Allegations: It includes previously unknown allegations, such as accounts from two minors held captive who reported being sexually abused and forced to perform sexual acts on each other.
Nova Music Festival: A harrowing example detailed in the report involves three separate incidents of rape at the Nova Music Festival site near the Gaza perimeter.
Systematic Nature: The evidence points to patterns of abuse, including sexual torture, killings following sexual violence, forced nudity, and the filming/dissemination of sexual violence imagery.
Evidence Collection and Methodology
The research team established the independent Civil Commission to document and preserve evidence. The process was exhaustive, involving:
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Conducting hundreds of interviews with survivors, first responders, forensic examiners, and medical experts.
Analyzing over 10,000 photographs and video segments, including material recorded by perpetrators.
Cross-referencing evidence through geolocation of photos and videos to pinpoint victim locations.
Elkayam-Levy emphasized that the goal of the report and its digital archive is to prevent the suffering from being denied, erased, or forgotten.
Addressing Denial and Controversy
The issue of sexual violence following the attack became highly politicized. To counter potential denial, the team ensured every cited case was cross-referenced and fact-checked by multiple witnesses, including first responders.
International Findings: These findings align with previous conclusions from the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (the Dinah Project) and a fact-finding mission by the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten.
Hamas Denial: Hamas has repeatedly denied that its militants committed rape during the attacks or against those held captive.
Challenges in Evidence: The researchers noted that the lack of immediate forensic evidence was partly due to the active combat zone and the immediate priorities of recovering and identifying bodies.
Mutilation and Intent
The report details that attackers often mutilated victims' bodies, specifically targeting women’s faces and intimate areas. Elkayam-Levy stated that this mutilation—including burning genital areas—was intended to inflict lasting pain and humiliation, suggesting it was a deliberate component of the attack's strategy.
