- The New York Times uncovered a pattern of sexual violence against Israeli women during the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.
- Witnesses, medical personnel, and soldiers reported numerous instances of rape and brutality against women.
- The Israeli police verified videos and photographs showing evidence of sexual violence.
- Gal Abdush was identified as a victim based on video evidence.
- No survivors have spoken publicly, and some bodies were buried quickly without forensic examination due to chaos and Jewish burial traditions.
Why is this important?
- Sexual violence is a war crime and contributes to the horrors of conflict.
- Recognizing such atrocities is critical to documenting war crimes and supporting the victims.
- Evidence of these crimes impacts public opinion, global responses, and historical records.
Consensus:
- Gal Abdush was identified as a victim of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.
- Witnesses and Israeli officials reported widespread instances of sexual violence.
- Some evidence and testimonials have been collected and verified by media and law enforcement.
Contested claims:
- The extent of sexual violence and the number of victims are unclear, with claims ranging from dozens to over a thousand.
- Whether or not Hamas systematically planned and executed the sexual violence as a war tactic is disputed.
Claims made by a single publication:
- The New York Times provides detailed testimonies and forensic evidence of sexual violence.
- Al Jazeera argues the sexual violence narrative is Israeli propaganda and does not provide evidence to support this.
- The Intercept claims there was no cover-up by the UN and condemns the exploitation of the events by Netanyahu.
- Meduza reports that there are very few surviving victims, as most were killed by Hamas following sexual assaults.
- The New York Times opinion piece by Jill Filipovic discusses the silence and denial around the sexual violence on Oct. 7.
