Devendra Kumar
UN Envoy Pramila Patten has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas committed rape, sexualised torture, and other cruel and inhumane treatment of women during its attack on southern Israel on October 7th. Patten led a nine-member team to Israel and the West Bank from January 29th to February 14th to assess the situation and gather information. The team’s report, released recently, states that they found clear and convincing evidence that some hostages were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and sexualised torture.
The team held 33 meetings with Israeli institutions and conducted interviews with 34 people, including survivors, witnesses, and healthcare professionals. Patten’s team found a pattern of undressing and restraining victims, which they believed may be indicative of sexual violence. They also uncovered reports of rape and gang rape at the Nova music festival and its surroundings, with some victims being killed or killed while being raped. Additionally, the team verified reports of rape and sexual violence in Kibbutz Reim and Kibbutz Be’er, although some allegations could not be verified.
Notably, the report concludes that there are “reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing”. Hamas has rejected earlier allegations of sexual assault, but Patten’s team found evidence to suggest that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the October 7th attacks in multiple locations across the Gaza Strip. The report highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children. Israel’s war against Hamas has left approximately 1,200 people dead, 250 others taken hostage, and over 30,000 people killed in the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A quarter of Gaza’s population is now facing starvation, according to the UN.
The findings of Patten’s report provide crucial evidence for further investigation and potential prosecution of those responsible. The international community must continue to press for an end to the conflict and ensure that all parties respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians from sexual violence.