UNITED NATIONS: In a report released on Monday, UN envoy Pramila Patten stated that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Hamas committed rape, “sexualized torture,” and other cruel acts during its surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Patten, who visited Israel and the West Bank with a technical team, mentioned that the violence may still be ongoing.
The report, based on first-hand accounts of released hostages, details instances of conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, during the Oct. 7 attacks. Patten emphasized that the purpose of the visit was not to investigate the allegations directly but to gather information for the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on sexual violence in conflict.
The report recommends that Israel grants access to the UN human rights chief and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian territories and Israel for full-fledged investigations into the alleged violations. Patten expressed hope that the UN Security Council would support this initiative.
The document outlines patterns of undressing and restraining victims, suggesting potential sexual violence. However, the true prevalence of sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks and their aftermath remains uncertain, with Patten noting that it may take months or years to emerge fully, if at all.
