Patten said he had received “clear and convincing information” that hostages were being raped by Hamas. This information also led to the belief that “such violence continues against those still detained.”
Patten spent several days in Israel in February. There she spoke to survivors, witnesses and security forces. The UN representative also met with Israelis who were freed from hostage detention by Hamas. The United Nations has previously been accused of being slow to respond to Israel's allegations of rape and sexual violence during the October 7 terrorist attack.
Rated photos and videos
Patten's team's investigation took place from late January to mid-February. There were dozens of meetings with representatives of Israeli authorities and organizations, and more than 5,000 photos and 50 hours of video were viewed.
The United Nations conducted 34 interviews with witnesses. The team did not speak to any surviving victims. The report attributed this, on the one hand, to ongoing trauma and, on the other hand, to victims' “lack of trust” in international organizations such as the UN.
Guterres rejects allegations of cover-up
The release of the report was accompanied by a new dispute between the United Nations and Israel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rejected Israeli claims that he wanted to suppress the report. “The work was done completely and quickly. The secretary-general did not in any way attempt to keep the report ‘silent’,” said his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.
Analysis: Continue negotiations for a ceasefire
How far have negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas progressed? Report by Tim Cupal (Tel Aviv) and Karim El Gawahary (Cairo).
Israel recalled its UN ambassador for consultations on Monday. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed Ambassador Gilad Erdan to return to Israel “for immediate consultations.” The reason was an attempt “to keep information about the mass rapes committed by Hamas and its allies on October 7 confidential,” Katz said.
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Pressure on Israel and Hamas is increasing
Erdan had previously attempted to support Israel's terrorism allegations against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) with video recordings before the United Nations General Assembly. During his speech today in New York, he showed a video purporting to show a UNRWA worker in Israel on October 7th.
Army: “450 terrorists” employed at UNRWA
The Israeli army said on Monday that UNRWA employed “more than 450 terrorists”. The army distributed a recording in which it said a “terrorist” could be heard working as an Arabic teacher at a school run by UNRWA.
According to the military, the man describes how he entered Israel during the Hamas attack on October 7. He also says in the recording, which cannot be independently verified, that he holds Israeli women hostage.
debate
What might the future of the Gaza Strip be like?
Several Western countries have frozen their payments to UNRWA due to the allegations, including Austria, the two largest donors, the US and Germany.
UN Secretary-General Guterres has called the allegations credible in the past and promised a comprehensive investigation. Collaboration with several employees was immediately terminated.
13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip
For decades, UNRWA has specifically addressed the needs of Palestinian refugees in the Middle East and manages, among other things, educational and health facilities. In total, more than 30,000 people work for the organization, around 13,000 of them in the Gaza Strip.
There, UNRWA is currently considered to have no alternative but to provide humanitarian assistance to more than two million civilians suffering the consequences of the Gaza war. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that his organization had no reservations. “We live precariously,” he said.
1,140 dead in terrorist attack
In its attack, Hamas killed around 1,140 people, some in the most horrific circumstances, and abducted around 250 others as hostages to the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel has carried out military actions in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas figures, which cannot be independently verified, more than 30,500 people have been killed so far.