According to the United Nations, there was most likely a violation in the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel on October 7. There are “valid reasons” for this assumption, according to a report by the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. Hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were also likely raped.
Patten said he had received “clear and convincing information” that hostages held by Hamas were being raped. This information also led to the belief “that such violence continues against those still detained.”
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The United Nations was initially accused of reacting too slowly to Israel's allegations of rape and sexual violence during Hamas' brutal attack. In February, Patten traveled to Israel for several days. There she spoke to survivors, witnesses and security forces. The UN special representative also met with Israelis who were freed from hostage detention by Hamas. Despite a call by Patten for victims of sexual violence to testify about the acts committed against them, no victims came forward.
Patten's now-published report states, among other things: Based on information received “from multiple and independent sources, there is strong reason to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the October 7 attack in several outlying locations of Gaza Strip, including rape and gang rape This happened in at least three locations, including the Nova Festival.
Israel raises accusations against the UN
The publication of the report was accompanied by a new dispute between the United Nations and Israel. UN Secretary-General António Guterres rejected Israeli claims that he wanted to suppress the report. “The work was done thoroughly and quickly. The secretary-general did not attempt in any way to keep the report 'silent',” said his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.
Israel had already recalled its ambassador to the United Nations. Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote to keep silent.”
Newsletter © Lea Dohle
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Relations between Israel and the UN deteriorated after the start of the war in Gaza. In late October, Ambassador Erdan called for the resignation of UN Secretary-General Guterres. The trigger was a speech by Guterres in which he strongly condemned Hamas' attack on Israel, but at the same time said that attacks by radical Palestinian organizations “did not occur in a vacuum.”
In its unprecedented attack, Hamas killed around 1,160 people, some in the most horrific circumstances, and took around 250 others hostage in 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 30,000 people have been killed so far.
According to the United Nations, there was most likely a violation in the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel on October 7. There are “valid reasons” for this assumption, according to a report by the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. Hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were also likely raped.
Patten said he had received “clear and convincing information” that hostages held by Hamas were being raped. This information also led to the belief “that such violence continues against those still detained.”