Full Breakdown
Report Finds Hamas Systematically Employed Sexual Violence During Oct. 7 Attack and Hostage Captivity
5/13/2026, 4:51:54 AM
Systematic Sexual Violence During the Oct. 7 Assault
An independent Israeli panel, the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children, concluded that Hamas deliberately used widespread sexual violence as a core component of its Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel and the subsequent captivity of hostages in Gaza. The commission classified the acts as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal acts under international law.
Background and Context
On Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel, killing over 2,000 civilians and seizing 251 people as hostages. The commission was created in November 2023 by an Israeli legal expert to investigate violations of international humanitarian law related to the attack and its aftermath.
Evidence and Quantitative Findings
The 300-page report draws on more than 10,000 photographs, nearly 2,000 hours of video, and testimony from over 430 witnesses, including survivors, returned hostages and family members. It documents sexual abuse occurring at the Nova music festival grounds, residential neighborhoods, roads, shelters and military installations. The commission notes that 41 of the 207 hostages taken alive died during captivity, while many victims did not survive to testify.
Official Statements and Responses
Commission founder Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy said the investigation confirmed that sexual violence was a pre-planned strategy executed with extreme cruelty. UN special-representative on sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten’s mission reported “clear and convincing information” of rape, sexualised torture and degrading treatment of women and children in Gaza. Hamas has not issued a response to the findings and continues to deny the accusations. Israel’s foreign ministry rejected a New York Times report alleging Israeli sexual abuse, labeling it a “false and well-orchestrated anti-Israel campaign.”
Criticism and Opposition
Human-rights observers and some UN officials have been criticized for a perceived delay in condemning the sexual violence documented by the commission. The New York Times investigation into alleged Israeli sexual abuse of Palestinians prompted Israeli officials to dismiss the claims as unfounded, highlighting divergent narratives surrounding sexual violence on both sides of the conflict.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
The commission’s data on hostage numbers differ from other sources: it records 251 hostages taken, 207 alive after the initial assault, and 41 deaths during captivity, while other tallies vary. Hamas’s lack of comment leaves a gap in the record, and the commission acknowledges that many victims could not testify because they did not survive. Additionally, the UN report on Israeli sexual violence cited by the New York Times remains contested by Israeli authorities.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The men pulled a woman from the vehicle… forcibly removed her clothing, and raped her… They repeatedly stabbed her, killing her… They continued to rape her after her death,” — Raz Cohen, survivor
- “You hear it. It’s right next to you. You hear the screams,” — Darin Komarov, survivor
- “It’s these little things that break you. When you have no control over your body and no control over how to take care of your body,” — Agam Goldstein, 17-year-old former hostage
- “Sexualised torture persisted during captivity in Gaza for prolonged periods.” — Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes
What’s Next
The commission’s findings are expected to inform ongoing war-crimes investigations and may lead to prosecutions in international or domestic courts. Further documentation and survivor testimony are anticipated as the investigative process continues.
