Hamas had a plan ready to use sexual violence as a weapon of war. This is what an Israeli activist and lawyer for women's rights has announced.
Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari stated on Monday that she has seen images of several women in several locations whose condition left no doubt that they had been raped.
Reactions abound over the delay by some UN bodies in accepting allegations of sexual atrocities by Hamas on October 7.
The extent of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during the October attacks is not yet clear, but Israeli police say they have so far collected more than 1,500 testimonies from witnesses and doctors.
Photos and live footage broadcast by the militants showed the horrific nature of the attacks on the Supernova festival.
A series of barbaric acts from gang rapes to sexual mutilation of murdered victims are being investigated by the police.
Hamas denies these abuses. An official, Basem Naim, told The Washington Post that the group considers "any sexual relationship or activity outside of marriage to be completely haram" - forbidden by Islam.
Israeli women's rights and legal activists have called on major international organizations to publicly acknowledge reports of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, following the Hamas attacks.
Professor Halperin-Kaddari, who has been a member of a UN convention on discrimination against women for 12 years, said UN bodies have been called on to acknowledge the crimes against humanity being committed by the militant group. (A2 Televizion)
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