Yes, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists committed numerous acts of sexual violence against Israeli women and girls during their attack on southern Israel. These atrocities occurred both during the initial assault and throughout the captivity of hostages in Gaza.
Evidence of Sexual Violence on October 7
According to Meni Binyamin, head of the International Crime Investigations Unit of the Israeli police, “dozens” of women and some men were raped by Hamas militants on October 7. The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) published a detailed report categorizing the sexual violence as systematic, deliberate, and sadistic. It documented that in several cases, rape was committed in front of others, including family members, to maximize pain, humiliation, and terror.
The report highlights that sexual violence occurred across various locations, including the Supernova music festival, residential homes in the Gaza envelope, and military bases. In many cases, victims were executed during or after the assaults. Evidence includes eyewitness testimonies, forensic findings, and video footage recovered from attackers’ devices, which was reviewed by Israeli police and shown to international journalists.
Sexual Violence During Captivity
Israeli doctors who treated freed hostages reported that many of the 30 released female hostages suffered violent sexual assaults during their captivity in Gaza. Women of childbearing age were subjected to pregnancy tests and screening for sexually transmitted infections. Many exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
International Inquiry
The United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, conducted a fact-finding mission to Israel and the West Bank in March 2024. Her team reviewed footage from October 7 and met with released hostages, concluding that there was “clear and convincing” information that Hamas committed acts of sexual violence.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the sexual violence inflicted by Hamas as “beyond anything I’ve seen,” emphasizing the severity of the crimes.
Survivor Testimonies
- Amit Soussana, a former hostage, publicly recounted her experience of sexual assault while in Hamas captivity. In an interview with The New York Times, she described being forced at gunpoint to perform a sexual act on her captor. Medical professionals corroborated her account, noting her detailed and consistent testimony. She later repeated her testimony in the Israeli documentary “Z’aakot VeAz Shtika” (“Screams Before Silence”).
- Chen Goldstein-Almog, another released hostage, reported that several fellow female captives confided in her that their captors sexually abused them multiple times. Some were severely injured from gunfire and received no medical care; others lost limbs.
- Chen’s daughter, Agam Goldstein-Almog, also released from captivity, testified that she witnessed a fellow hostage being sexually assaulted by a Hamas terrorist who entered while the woman was showering.
- Aviva Sigal, who was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and later freed, testified before the Knesset that she saw a terrorist touch one hostage inappropriately. In another instance, she witnessed a different hostage being tortured after her captors mistakenly believed she was a military officer.
- In July 2024, a male survivor of the Nova music festival massacre testified to the Daily Mail that he was raped by a group of Hamas Nukhba terrorists during the attack. His account marked one of the first publicly reported cases of sexual violence against a male victim on October 7.
Conclusion
The evidence indicates that Hamas employed sexual violence as a deliberate tactic during their October 7 attack and in the treatment of hostages. These acts constitute serious violations of international law and have been widely condemned by the global community.