There are “reasonable grounds to believe” rapes were committed during Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and that hostages subsequently taken to Gaza have also been raped, a UN report said Monday, March 4, 2024.

UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten found “clear and convincing information” that some hostages had been raped, and believes “that such violence may be ongoing against those still held.” “In the context of the coordinated attack by Hamas and other armed groups against civilian and military targets throughout the Gaza periphery, the mission team found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations during the October 7 attacks, including rape and gang-rape,” the report said.

These happened in at least three locations – the Nova music festival site and its surroundings, Road 232, and Reim kibbutz, it added.

“In most of these incidents, victims first subjected to rape were then killed, and at least two incidents relate to the rape of women’s corpses,” the report said. Despite calls for victims of sexual violence to come forward and testify, none did. However, members of the mission were able to interview survivors and witnesses of the October 7 attacks, as well as members of the health services.