Sexual Terror on October 7: Israel Presses UN to Respond

Israel has urged the United Nations to take decisive action following the release of a new independent report alleging that Hamas systematically used sexual violence as a weapon during its brutal October 7, 2023, assault on Israeli civilians.

The report, compiled by Israeli legal experts from the Dinah Project, documents disturbing patterns of rape, mutilation, and gender-based violence.

These were reportedly committed during the attack that marked the beginning of the ongoing Gaza war.

Speaking at the UN offices in Geneva on Wednesday, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Meron criticized the United Nations.

Meron criticized the UN for its delayed response in acknowledging and condemning the acts of sexual violence committed by Palestinian militants.

“It took far too long for the UN to even acknowledge that such violence took place,” Meron said, adding that these were not isolated incidents.

“Conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence was used against Israelis in a brutal and calculated way, and yet the United Nations has not acted.”

The October 7 attack by Hamas and other Gaza-based groups left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage.

Since then, Israel has launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza that has resulted in widespread devastation and international scrutiny.

However, Israeli officials say the international response to the atrocities that triggered the war has been muted—particularly regarding sexual violence.

The Dinah Project, composed of Israeli legal professionals and scholars, presented their findings at a briefing organized by the UN correspondents’ association (ACANU).

The group’s report concluded that sexual violence during the October 7 attack was not incidental but “widespread and systematic,” taking place in at least six separate locations.

According to the report, Hamas employed sexual violence as a deliberate tactic, aiming to sow terror and undermine the social fabric of Israeli society.

“Hamas used sexual violence as a tactical weapon, as part of a genocidal scheme and with the goal of terrorizing and dehumanizing Israeli society,” the report states.

Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas, director of the Dinah Project, called sexual violence in conflict zones “the perfect crime.”

She pointed out that many victims were murdered during or after the assaults, rendering them unable to testify and effectively “silenced.”

The team said they compiled the report using testimonies from eyewitnesses, first responders, forensic experts, and members of Israel’s security forces.

In total, the group documented at least 15 confirmed instances of sexual assault, including rapes, gang rapes, mutilation of sexual organs, and executions following the assaults.

Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, a member of the Dinah Project and former UN expert on women’s rights, said visual and forensic evidence pointed to patterns of abuse.

“Photographs and testimonies reveal a recurring pattern: women’s bodies, often found naked or partially unclothed, were discovered in similar positions, some bound to trees or poles, many with gunshot wounds to their genitalia,” she said.

Despite mounting evidence and survivor accounts, Hamas has repeatedly denied all allegations of sexual violence.

Halperin-Kaddari condemned the international community’s muted reaction, describing it as a “total failure of the international human rights system.”

She criticized the lack of condemnation and response from global bodies tasked with protecting women and upholding human rights during times of war.

The Dinah Project plans to bring its findings to the United Nations headquarters in New York and formally present them to Secretary-General António Guterres.

Ambassador Meron urged the UN to consider the report at the “highest level,” stating that recognition and accountability are essential steps toward justice.

The report and Israel’s call for action come amid heightened debate over how the UN addresses sexual violence in conflict zones.

While the international body has established frameworks for investigating such crimes, critics argue that political sensitivities and slow response times have undermined their effectiveness, especially in cases involving non-state actors like Hamas.

Israel hopes that by spotlighting the findings of the Dinah Project, the United Nations will be compelled to not only acknowledge the use of sexual violence during the October 7 attacks but also initiate a formal investigation and hold those responsible to account.

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