The Israeli government and women's groups have been demonstrating in New York and Geneva over what they describe as willful delays by UN Women and other international groups in denouncing the sexual violence which took place during the attacks by Hamas on October 7th.
widespread rape and sexual violence against women during the October 7th Hamas attacks in Israel. Eyewitnesses, body collectors, morgue staff, and video/photo evidence point to brutal sexual assaults, mutilation and killings across attack sites.
An eyewitness video shown by police describes a horrific gang rape and mutilation of a woman at the Nova music festival. Other firsthand accounts tell of screams indicating rape, and naked, assaulted female bodies. An Israeli minister says psychiatric patients include rape survivors.
"This was a mass casualty event," police spokesman Dean Elsdunne told journalists at a briefing.
"The first thing was to work on identifying the victims, not necessarily on crime scene investigation. People were waiting to hear what happened to their loved ones."
Officials have multiple eyewitness reports but few victim testimonies so far, as most women were murdered. Analysts see parallels to wartime sexual violence tactics by ISIS and in Bosnia. Systematic patterns in the assaults suggest possible premeditation rather than random acts.
"Police have privately shown journalists a single horrific testimony that they filmed of a woman who was at the Nova festival site during the attack.
She describes seeing Hamas fighters gang rape a woman and mutilate her, before the last of her attackers shot her in the head as he continued to rape her. "
Precise victim figures are unclear given the condition of bodies and lack of forensics in the immediate aftermath. But observers use words like “abundant” and “more than enough” raped women, with signs of atrocities across ages.
As evidence mounts of sexual crimes against humanity, Israel insists on international recognition that the violence was planned, not coincidental. But early global condemnation was lacking. Still, the brutal assaults show women’s bodies were weaponized on a devastating scale.
Click here for the full article on BBC News
The silence of UN Women in the face of these unspeakable atrocities is unacceptable and a stain on the UN. The SG finally recognised and condemned these horrific acts against innocent women only after the world was presented with a mountain of graphic evidence. Shame on the UN for its obvious double standards with regards to innocent victims.
ReplyDeleteI'm apalled that the UN chooses to highlight selective issues. Or are we hiding our heads in shame through silence. This is gross violation against Israeli women, speak up and condemn!
ReplyDeleteIn the decades of conflict between Israel and Palestine, rape as a weapon of war has never featured as an issue. Sexual violence against Palestinian children in Israeli military detention has been researched and documented.
DeleteTo date, the information on this is coming from unspecified “eyewitnesses”, “analysts” and “observers”. There is reference to a lack of forensics and only generic descriptions are provided.
The arena is rife with misinformation and spin. The IDF have long been masters of public manipulation with “information”.
Under these circumstances, any credible organisation engaged in documenting and addressing violence against women (or children) must tread with extreme caution. The Israeli intent will be to use the UN as a mouthpiece for their own purposes, or, failing that, condemn the UN for inaction.
Thank you Doug for this rectification. As XUNICEF, and in the spirit of UNICEF, we indeed need to be cautious on this issue in particular, and only robust documentation and evidence should guide our opinion and comments.
DeleteMisinformation is being perpetrated by all parties in the conflict. Nevertheless whichever side resorts to this heinous crime needs to be strongly condemned.
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