Following a 17-day visit to Israel, the UN Special Representative on
Sexual Violence in Conflict reported on Monday that she
and a team of experts had found “clear and convincing
information” of rape, and sexualized torture being committed
against hostages seized during the 7 October terror attacks.
Pramila Patten added in a press release issued along with the
report, that there are also reasonable grounds to believe that
such violence, which includes other “cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment”, may be continuing against those still being held by
Hamas and other extremists in the Gaza Strip.
The report from her Office, arose from an official visit to
Israel at the invitation of the Government, which included a
visit to the occupied West Bank, between 29 January and 14
February.
In the context of the coordinated attack by Hamas and others of 7
October, the UN mission team found that there
are reasonable grounds to believe that
conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple
locations, including rape and gang rape in at least
three locations in southern Israel.
The team also found a pattern of victims, mostly women, found
fully or partially naked, bound and shot across multiple
locations which “may be indicative of some forms of sexual
violence”.
In some locations, the mission said it could not verify reported
incidents of rape.
Full extent may never be known
The UN team is of the view that the true extent of sexual
violence committed during the 7 October attacks and their
aftermath, could “take months or years to emerge and may
never be fully known”, according to the press release.
The mission made up of Ms. Patten and nine experts – which
was not investigative in nature –
conducted 33 meetings with Israeli representatives, examining
more than 5,000 photographic images and 50 hours of video
footage. It conducted 34 confidential interviews including with
survivors and witnesses of the 7 October attacks, released
hostages, first responders and others.
The report says that Israeli authorities have faced numerous
challenges in collecting evidence.
Allegations implicating Israeli security forces,
settlers
The team also visited Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, to hear the views and concerns of officials and civil
society representatives since 7 October, which allegedly
implicate Israeli security forces and settlers.
Ms. Patten heard concerns raised over cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment of Palestinians in detention, including
sexual violence in the form of invasive searches, threats of rape
and prolonged forced nudity.
The information gathered will complement that already gathered by
other UN officials on allegations of conflict-related sexual
violence inside Gaza, for potential inclusion in the
Secretary-General’s annual report on the issue.
Initial recommendations
Ms. Patten’s recommendations include a call for the Israeli
Government to grant full access to the UN human rights office
(OHCHR) and the Human Rights
Council-mandated independent Commission of
Inquiry on the occupied territory, “to conduct
fully-fledged independent investigations into all alleged
violations”, according to the press release.
She called on Hamas to immediately and
unconditionally release all those being held as
hostages and to ensure their protection, including
from sexual violence.
Ms. Patten also called on all relevant and competent bodies
to bring all perpetrators of sexual violence to
justice, offering the full support of her office to
bolster national efforts.
She also called for the highest standards of information
integrity in reporting and handling of sexual violence cases, as
the press release notes, “given the risks of inflammatory
rhetoric and sensationalized headlines escalating tensions” along
with media or political pressure which will only
compound the trauma and stigmatization of
survivors.
The Special Representative echoed the Secretary-General’s call
for a humanitarian ceasefire and urged any ceasefire agreement to
acknowledge the importance of recognizing sexual violence as a
key issue, and to allow affected communities to be heard.
She reiterated her profound sympathy and solidarity with all
civilians impacted by the “brutal violence in the region” since 7
October.
