Systematic Sexual Violence in the October 7 2023 Attack: Findings of the Civil Commission

The Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children released a 300-page report titled *Silenced No More*. It concludes that sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) was “systematic, widespread and integral” to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel and to the subsequent captivity of hostages in Gaza. The commission classifies the acts as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal acts under international law.

The Straits Times

Researchers examined more than 10,000 photographs and video segments—over 1,800 hours of visual material—most of it recorded by the perpetrators. They conducted 430 formal and informal interviews with survivors, witnesses, returned hostages, medical experts and family members. The archive documents 13 recurring patterns of SGBV, including rape, gang rape, sexual torture, forced nudity, execution after sexual assault, post-mortem abuse, filming and dissemination of the acts, and “kinocidal” violence in which family members were forced to assault one another. Victims represented 52 nationalities.

Times of Israel

The report was led by Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, an Israel-Prize-winning human-rights lawyer. Endorsements include former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler, former Israeli Supreme Court president Aharon Barak and UN special representative on sexual violence Pramila Patten.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

• The commission states that the documented SGBV “forms a central component of the October 7 attack and of hostages’ captivity.”

France 24

• Israel’s Knesset passed a law establishing a special military tribunal to try perpetrators, including sexual-crime charges.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

• The International Criminal Court sought arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders on rape and other war-crime allegations; the proceedings were closed after the suspects were killed in Israel’s Gaza campaign.

Euronews

• Hamas has repeatedly denied that any sexual violence occurred.

CBC News

Critics note that early reports of sexual violence were later found inaccurate, and some Israeli officials questioned the commission’s methodology and earlier public claims. The commission responded that every piece of evidence was cross-referenced, geolocated and verified to counter denial.

Euronews

• Some initial eyewitness accounts were later debunked, fueling skepticism.

Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

• The UN mission led by Pramila Patten affirmed “reasonable grounds” for sexual violence but could not meet victims directly.

CNN

• Independent human-rights groups have called for more transparent access to the archive, which remains restricted to protect victim privacy.

The Jerusalem Post

• “The most important finding is the fact that the sexual violence on October 7 and against hostages in captivity has been a calculated strategy by Hamas,” — Cochav Elkayam-Levy, lead author

CNN

• “Sexual violence is meant to torture, humiliate.” — Cochav Elkayam-Levy

CNN

• “History has shown us that sexual violence in war is too often hidden, minimized, or erased from the historical record. This report is an act of witness against that erasure,” — Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State

The Algemeiner Journal

• “Based on the first-hand accounts of released hostages, the mission team received clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualised torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment occurred against some women and children during their time in captivity,” — Pramila Patten, UN special representative on sexual violence in conflict

France 24

The commission will submit the report to national parliaments and international bodies, urging coordinated investigations, specialized war-crimes units and sanctions against perpetrators. It also recommends that the newly created Israeli tribunal incorporate dedicated chambers for SGBV cases and that the evidentiary archive be used to support prosecutions in domestic and international courts.

The Jerusalem Post