Report Details Systematic Sexual Violence in October 7 Hamas Attacks

An Israeli commission has released a comprehensive report detailing systematic sexual violence committed during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The 290-page document, titled "Silenced No More," was published by the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children, an independent panel established shortly after the attacks.

The report is based on a two-year investigation involving over 400 testimonies from survivors, witnesses, experts, and relatives of hostages, as well as the analysis of nearly 2,000 hours of visual material. It documents various forms of sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, sexual torture, mutilation, forced nudity, and abuse of hostages, including children. These acts were reportedly carried out in a systematic manner during the attacks and the subsequent captivity of hostages in Gaza.

The commission's findings suggest that these actions were deliberate tactics used by Hamas as part of their broader terror activities. The report identifies 13 forms of sexual and gender-based violence and concludes that these acts must be examined as possible war crimes, crimes against humanity, acts of genocide, and terrorist acts under international law.

The report has been endorsed by public figures such as Hillary Clinton and Sheryl Sandberg. However, some critics have questioned the author's past research, and the findings have not been independently verified by the Associated Press. The United Nations and the International Criminal Court have also reported suspicions of sexual crimes by Hamas.

The Israeli government has accused the international community of ignoring or downplaying evidence of sexual violence during the attacks, alleging anti-Israel bias. The report underscores the trauma endured by survivors and criticizes both Israeli and international responses to the allegations.

Hamas has consistently denied allegations of sexual assault. The commission acknowledged that evidence collection was complicated by the deaths of many victims and the destruction of crime scenes but stated that this "does not prevent prosecution, but rather requires an approach based on connecting multiple forms of evidence and identifying recurring patterns."

The findings of the report have prompted calls for further investigation and potential prosecution of those responsible for the documented acts of sexual violence during the October 7 attacks and their aftermath.