Like Al Qaida, Boko Haram and ISIS who brutally raped and murdered women as a form of terror, Israel has just released an alarming report about the sexual violence of Hamas from Gaza. It is a difficult report to read but we have a copy here (links to PDF). The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel’s first official report regarding the Hamas attack on October 7 highlights the following key points:
- Sexual crimes were systematically and intentionally committed.
- Four main arenas of sexual abuse were identified.
- The sexual assaults and acts of rape involved multiple participants and included sadistic practices characterized by brutal features.
Orit Sulitzeanu, CEO of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, emphasized the significance of the report, stating that it leaves no room for denial or disregard. The report clearly indicates Hamas’s strategic decision to harm Israel through kidnapping citizens and committing sadistic sexual crimes. Silence in response to these atrocities is unacceptable, and international organizations are urged to take a clear stance.
The report, authored by Dr. Carmit Klar Chalamish and Noga Berger, consolidates evidence and concludes that the sexual crimes were not isolated incidents but part of a systematic, targeted strategy. It focuses on sexual and gender-based violence during the October 7 massacre and subsequent war, serving as a primary testimonial foundation indicating widespread sexual crimes.
The methodology involved analyzing numerous pieces of information, including testimonies, interviews, and direct information received by the ARCCI. Findings reveal brutal acts of violent rape, often involving threats with weapons and collaboration among perpetrators. Sexual and gender-based violence occurred systematically in various arenas, including festivals, kibbutzim, IDF bases, and captivity.
The report’s authors highlight the brutal nature of the assaults, designed to inflict sadistic terror and reinforce their impact on victims and communities. The ARCCI, founded in 1990, operates as an umbrella organization for nine rape crisis centers in Israel, addressing around 50,000 calls each year. It works to promote rights and services for survivors of sexual abuse and reduce its prevalence in Israeli society.
Read with caution. The full report is here.
