Study finds sexual violence was a deliberate tactic in Hamas' Oct 7 attack
A two-year investigation by the Civil Commission, supported by human-rights experts, finds that sexual and gender-based violence was systematic, widespread and integral to Hamas’ Oct 7 attack and hostage-taking in southern Israel. Drawing on hundreds of survivor testimonies and thousands of photos and videos, the report documents rapes, sexual torture, forced nudity, and mutilation across multiple sites—including the Nova Music Festival—some involving minors, and argues the violence was a deliberate tactic. Hamas denies the claims, while international bodies have noted reasonable grounds to believe such violence occurred; the researchers also maintain a confidential digital archive to preserve evidence and protect victims’ privacy.
