Israel Confirms Sexual Abuse Reports Among Gaza Hostages

Around half of the living hostages who were recently returned from Gaza have reported experiencing sexual abuse during their captivity, according to statements from Israeli officials. This alarming revelation underscores the severe trauma faced by individuals who were held by Hamas. Israel’s official account on X stated, “About 50 per cent of the hostages endured significant sexual assault.” The figure rises when including instances such as being watched while bathing or forced to undress.

The reports of abuse include accounts of sexual coercion, gang rape, and humiliation. Former hostage Aviva Siegel provided harrowing testimony to the UN Committee Against Torture, detailing the atrocities witnessed during their time in captivity. She recounted an incident involving a young girl, stating, “I am a witness to one of the girls who was with us, that the Hamas terrorist came to the bathroom, told her to get undressed, came into the shower with her, and forced her to do oral sex.” Siegel further described how the trauma affected the young hostages, highlighting a 16-year-old girl who was forced to shower under the watchful gaze of a Hamas member.

Siegel described how one girl returned from the bathroom visibly shaken after being assaulted. “She was so scared because he said to her that if she said anything about it, he would kill her,” Siegel recalled. The accounts provided by hostages paint a grim picture of the conditions they endured.

The discourse surrounding these abuses intensified following remarks made by Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls. Alsalem sparked outrage by denying any reports of rape during the October 7 attacks, despite multiple testimonies from witnesses. She asserted on X, “No Palestinian cheered for rape in Gaza. No independent investigation has found that rape occurred on October 7.”

Her statements prompted a strong backlash from Israeli officials, including Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN. He labeled Alsalem’s comments a “moral disgrace,” demanding her removal from her position. “Any UN representative who denies rape by Hamas must be removed from her position. Period. This is a stain on the UN’s reputation,” Danon stated.

These claims stand in contrast to a report released in 2024 by Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. While Patten did not find conclusive proof of rape, she noted “reasonable grounds” to believe such acts occurred based on circumstantial evidence, including victims’ bodies being discovered in compromising positions. Patten remarked, “We saw a catalogue of the most extreme and inhumane forms of torture and other horrors.”

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions surrounding the treatment of hostages and the implications for international human rights. As the world grapples with these revelations, the focus remains on ensuring accountability for the violations experienced by those who were held captive.