More than 10 weeks after Hamas’s bloody attack on Israel, cases of sexual violence have increased.
Scarcity of Survivor Testimonies and Lack of Medical Evidence
It is difficult to assess the extent of sexual violence and determine its scope due to the scarcity of survivor testimonies and the lack of medical evidence.
Israel’s Accusations of Hamas Inciting Sexual Violence
Israel accused international organizations of inadequately responding to its claims that Hamas used rape and sexual violence as weapons in the war.
Failure to Confirm Complete Accounts of Atrocities
The full picture of the atrocities or their systematic nature has not yet been determined following the chaos that ensued from the massive attack that resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel.
Lack of Medical Reports Confirming Sexual Violence
No medical reports have confirmed the occurrence of sexual violence, while Hamas denied the accusations and claimed they aim to “demonize” the group.
Shari’s Testimony, One of the Volunteers
Shari, one of the volunteers who identified and washed the bodies of female soldiers after the attack, described the shock they experienced and described the state of the soldiers who suffered injuries in sensitive areas.
The Deadliest Attack in Israel’s History
The attack launched by Hamas was the deadliest in Israel’s history, with ongoing bombardment and ground attacks in Gaza resulting in the deaths of no less than 20,057 people.
Delayed Acknowledgment of Sexual Violence
Devora Bauman, a women’s specialist in Jerusalem, said that the acknowledgment of sexual violence in Hamas’s attack came very late, as most rescue teams did not consider rape during their rapid response to the crisis.
Difficulty in Identifying What Happened Exactly
There is difficulty in pinpointing exactly what happened everywhere, as there was a lack of coordination between different aspects of the rescue operation, the army, and the police.
Details of Horrific Crimes
There are horrific details about the crimes committed, such as the discovery of a woman’s body shot in the head in Kibbutz Beeri, and the body of a young woman underneath the body of a fighter in a destroyed house in the same kibbutz.
Independent International Investigation
Celine Bardet, the founder of the organization “We Are Not Weapons of War” against sexual violence related to conflicts, expressed her disappointment over the lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities and their refusal of an independent international investigation.
International Criminal Investigation
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court may decide to investigate sexual violence, but this is expected to take years.
Difficulty in Identifying What Happened to the Women
Kochav Elkyam Levy, head of the inquiry committee on gender-based violence and children during Hamas’s attacks, noted that women who experienced sexual violence often take years to come forward and disclose their experiences.
Putting Together the Pieces of the Puzzle
Assembling the pieces of the puzzle of sexual crimes during the Hamas attack is a challenging task that will take a long time to complete.
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