Israeli Commission Finds Systematic Hamas Sexual Violence on Oct. 7

An independent Israeli commission released a comprehensive report on Tuesday concluding that Hamas militants and other attackers systematically employed sexual and gender-based violence as a deliberate tactic during the October 7, 2023, assaults on southern Israel and against hostages held in Gaza.

The Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children detailed its findings in a nearly 300-page document following a two-year investigation. The inquiry reviewed more than 10,000 photographs and video clips totaling over 1,800 hours, alongside over 430 interviews with survivors, witnesses, former hostages, first responders, medical personnel, experts and family members. Commissioners identified recurring patterns across multiple locations, including kibbutzim, roadside shelters, the Nova music festival site, military bases, abduction routes and captivity sites in Gaza. Acts documented included rape, gang rape, sexual torture, genital mutilation, forced nudity, humiliation in front of relatives, threats of forced marriage, postmortem violations and assaults on men and boys.

Forensic evidence from body identifications at the Shura military base revealed...