During the United Nations meeting, disturbing reports of sexual violence surfaced following the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas.
The Israeli military, responding to the assaults, set up an impromptu morgue where at least 300 women among the 1,200 casualties were identified. The nature of the violence, as reported by Shari Mendes, a reservist, includes instances of mutilation, rape, and burning.
Israeli Police Probe Sexual Crimes Amid Challenges
The United Nations logo is seen at UN headquarters in New York on October 4, 2023.
Israeli police have launched investigations into possible sexual crimes, arresting hundreds of individuals in connection with the attacks. However, challenges have arisen in preserving perishable evidence due to the urgent need for mass casualty identification and burial according to Jewish burial law. Shari Mendes highlighted the difficulty in examining clothing, which was buried with the victims, adhering to religious practices.
The alleged atrocities occurred in various locations, including Kibbutz Beeri and an open-air music festival near the Gaza border fence. Reuters received accounts from seven different sources describing women found semi-naked, bound, eviscerated, and torched. While some evidence matches these descriptions, independent verification remains a challenge.
Hamas vehemently denies the allegations, calling for an impartial international investigation. The UN Commission of Inquiry, which has been assigned the responsibility of investigating war crimes in the Israel-Hamas conflict, will include an examination of these allegations. Israel, however, accuses the commission of bias and refuses to cooperate.
The investigation into sexual crimes faces obstacles, including the traumatization of victims and the challenges of collecting evidence from decomposed bodies. Authorities have imposed a gag order on the investigation, but testimonies suggest a range of atrocities, including sexual violence, rape, and genital mutilation.
Outside the UN headquarters, approximately 800 protesters accused the organization of double standards regarding sexual violence, chanting slogans such as "Me too, unless you're a Jew." Sheryl Sandberg, former Meta COO, accused the UN of complicity through silence and emphasized the urgency of condemning Hamas's actions, according to Aol.
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Global Leaders Condemn Hamas' Sexual Violence, Block of Hostage Release
World leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden, condemned the sexual violence. The breakdown of a recent hostage release deal was attributed to Hamas's reluctance to allow captured women to speak about their experiences of sexual violence. Of the released hostages, approximately 78 were Israeli women and children.
The UN, criticized for its perceived silence on Hamas's actions, finally released a statement condemning sex crimes, emphasizing the need for vigorous investigation and prosecution. UN Women, previously singled out for silence, is under scrutiny for its response.
Israeli police, documenting "violent rape incidents" on October 7, have uncovered evidence of naked bodies, broken pelvic bones, and videos taken by Hamas fighters. Witnesses, including a paramedic, attest to targeted shootings at sexual organs.
As allegations and investigations unfold, the international community grapples with the enormity of the crimes committed during the October 7 attacks, urging a comprehensive and impartial inquiry into the disturbing reports of sexual violence, The Telegraph reported.
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