Exposing Hamas' Use of Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
An Israeli women's rights campaigner and lawyer, Prof Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, claims that Hamas had a premeditated plan to use sexual violence as a weapon of war during the 7 October attacks. She saw footage and spoke to witnesses who provided accounts of rape and mutilation of women. Israeli police have gathered over 1,500 testimonies and are investigating a range of sexual crimes. Hamas has denied these allegations. Israeli women's rights activists have called on international organizations to acknowledge the reports of gender-based violence. The UN has been criticized for its delayed response, but a UN commission of inquiry will investigate the alleged war crimes, including sexual violence.