New Israeli Report Details Over 15 Cases of Sexual Assault in October 7 Attacks, Urges UN to Blacklist Hamas

A new comprehensive report, compiled by the Israeli legal and gender experts of the Dinah Project, has detailed extensive allegations of sexual violence committed during the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. The report, released this week, asserts that Hamas utilized sexual violence as a "tactical weapon of war" and "part of a deliberate genocidal strategy," calling on the United Nations to formally list Hamas as a perpetrator of sexual violence.

The Dinah Project's findings are based on a review of evidence including first-hand testimonies from survivors and 15 former hostages held in Gaza, as well as accounts from witnesses and 27 first responders. The report cites at least 15 separate cases of sexual assault, including instances of gang rape, genital mutilation, and killings following assaults. Testimonies from former hostages revealed experiences of sexual violence, forced nudity, verbal and physical sexual harassment, and threats of forced marriage, affecting both women and men.

The report identifies "clear signs of sexual violence" across six locations impacted by the October 7 attacks, including the Nova music festival, Route 232, and the kibbutzim of Be'eri, Alumim, Nahal Oz, and Re'im. The authors acknowledge that many victims were "permanently silenced" due to being killed or severely traumatized, creating unique evidentiary challenges. To address this, the Dinah Project proposes a "legal blueprint" for prosecuting such crimes, even when direct attribution to individual perpetrators is difficult.

The call for the UN to blacklist Hamas follows previous discussions and decisions by the international body. In March 2024, Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, reported "reasonable grounds to believe" that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the October 7 attacks and that there was "clear and convincing information" that Israeli hostages in Gaza experienced sexual violence. However, in April 2024, the UN Secretary-General's annual report did not include Hamas on its "blacklist" of parties responsible for sexual violence, citing a lack of what it deemed credible evidence from a full investigation.

Hamas has consistently denied that its fighters committed any sexual assaults during the October 7 attacks, calling for an impartial international investigation into the accusations. Despite these denials, the International Criminal Court's prosecutor has accused top Hamas leaders of crimes against humanity, including rape and other forms of sexual violence. The Dinah Project's new report intensifies pressure on international bodies to take further action regarding the allegations.