Hamas sexual violence on 7th October attack. Content warning.

[ArabellaScott]

A new investigation has shared more information on details of Hamas' atrocities.

I do urge caution when reading, and don't if you are feeling fragile.

'An independent, Israeli investigation has published harrowing details of "systematic, widespread" sexual violence by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the attacks on 7 October 2023, and against hostages.
The 300-page report concludes that rapes, sexual assault and sexual torture were intended "to maximize pain and suffering".
While the UN and others have published reports on sexual violence during the attacks – in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage – this is the most comprehensive.
It draws on 430 filmed interviews with survivors and witnesses, more than 10,000 photographs and videos filmed by attackers, and official records and material from attack sites.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgz9k7pzggo

Yes. I recall the Irish girl who was kidnapped by Hamas, and her father's hope that she'd been killed.

My thoughts are with her.

This happens Every. Single. Time.
There are posters who cannot, simply cannot, condemn what Hamas did on Oct 7 without both-sidesing it. Every. Single. Time.

They remind me of the posters who just have to say "women do it too" when a thread is about MVAWG.

Will you condemn what the IDF have been doing?

Emily. Emily Hand.

I wish her all the healing and time and care she needs.

Is it a condemnathon?

Start a thread about it and I might.

This is about Jewish victims of Hamas. How do you not understand that?

Ultimately, it's just blatant disrespect.

I do understand.
But if this is meant to be informative, it's important to inform on the wider picture.

If we're going to condemn one side as animals for doing something, then surely it's important to know the other has done the same.

Yes.

Any rape is appalling and unacceptable. Whether committed by IDF or Hamas. Whatever the creed or religion of the men who perpetrate it.

Now, can we return to the subject of the thread?

Basically what these posters are saying is "they deserved it".

Sickening.

I have not called anyone 'animals'. Dehumanising people is wrong.

Rape is wrong.

Have you got what you needed? Coerced women into mouthing the words you demand?

Now. Will you read the report?

Have you read the report?

Do are you saying on a thread about the atrocities committed by Hamas, you want to “both sides” this? Why not start your own thread?

Yes, we should all be made aware of and condemning the rape of and sexual violence against women happening in Israel and occupied Palestine.

Great. Now, will you read the report?

I don't need to, this thread is relevant.

What is your response to the report?

Just FYI if you're struggling to understand, the title of the thread is:

Hamas sexual violence on 7th October attack

Start your own thread about IDF sexual violence

In the immediate aftermath of the assault, some initial accounts of terrible violence shared by Israeli officials turned out to be false. Some important forensic evidence was also destroyed by first responders rushing to the crime scenes.

That's interesting.

Is it? In what way?

There was some misinformation that then got corrected as is fairly common in terrorist attacks (not that, thankfully, there have been many of this nature or scale).

First responders were focused on protecting and helping the living and dealing with the ongoing attack.

I see someone has been on a reporting spree on this thread, judging by the number of deletions.

I am so sorry @ArabellaScott that your thread has been targeted in this way

I'm reading this.

I would actually suggest it is informative to read both reports, side by side.

Very informative.

It's interesting that officials shared false and misleading information. It's also interesting that The UN Commission of Inquiry (CoI) subsequently published a legally mandated report in June 2024 that stated there was "a pattern indicative of sexual violence by Palestinian forces during the attack", but that it was unable to independently verify allegations of rape due to Israel's obstruction of its investigation. It also found some of the allegations to be false and found "no credible evidence" that Palestinian militants had received direct orders to commit sexual violence.

I'm inclined to have less faith in an Israeli report, given this information, than an independent report.

That's not to say that there weren't acts of sexual violence on October 7th. The UN report supports that there were. Just that anything coming from Israel needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Read the APPG. Read the independent report from the UN.

https://www.un.org/unispal/document/conflict-related-sexual-violence-report-of-the-secretary-general-s-2025-389/

https://www.7octparliamentarycommission.co.uk/

Absolutely horrific.