Shocking report

Systematic sexual violence during Hamas attack

Hamas caused a bloodbath at a music festival in October.

(Bild: AFP or licensors)

According to a new report, serious and systematic sexual violence occurred during the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7. "The sexual assaults and rapes were committed by several participants and included sadistic acts of a brutal and demonstrative nature," said the report published on Wednesday by the Israeli Association of Rape Crisis Centers (ARCCI).

Most of the victims were murdered during or after the rape. Women in particular, but also children and men, were victims of sexual violence.

"Silence is no longer an option"
ARCCI Chairperson Orit Sulitzeanu said in a statement: "The report, which has been presented to UN decision-makers, leaves no room for denial or disregard."

Islamist Hamas has chosen to harm Israel in a strategic way, by kidnapping its citizens and committing sadistic sexual crimes. "Silence is no longer an option," Sulitzeanu said. "We expect international organizations to take a clear stand."

Islamist Hamas has chosen to harm Israel in a strategic way, by kidnapping its citizens and committing sadistic sexual crimes.

Orit Sulitzeanu, die Vorsitzende von ARCCI

Sexual assaults at music festival
The sexual assaults mainly took place at the Nova music festival in Reim, in the towns attacked and in military bases on the edge of the Gaza Strip and in the captivity of the hostages.

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Booby traps hidden in corpses
In many cases, injured women were raped at gunpoint. In some cases, the victims were "raped in front of partners, family or friends to increase the pain and humiliation for all present", the report said. Booby traps were hidden in some of the bodies.

Many of the victims' bodies were found mutilated and bound, with their sexual organs brutally attacked and, in some cases, weapons inserted.

Auszug aus dem Bericht der israelischen Vereinigung von Krisenzentren für Vergewaltigungsopfer (ARCCI)

The report is based on both confidential and public information, including witness statements, interviews with first responders and direct information received by ARCCI. The report only mentions information from identified sources that has been released for publication. However, the analysis is based on additional, confidential information that should not be published. Hamas had denied reports of the use of systematic sexual violence.

On October 7, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups attacked southern Israel. They killed 1,200 people and deported another 250 to the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel's military has launched massive air strikes and a ground offensive against Hamas and its allies in the coastal region. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in the process.