Israel seeks recognition of Hamas sexual violence at UN meeting

Israel seeks recognition of Hamas sexual violence at UN meeting  Reuters

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Nov 28, 2023 - 17:30
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Israel seeks recognition of Hamas sexual violence at UN meeting

Israel Seeks Recognition of Hamas Sexual Violence at UN Meeting

Introduction

Israel held a meeting at the U.N. in Geneva late on Monday to raise awareness of sexual violence against women perpetrated during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks amid criticism that the global body has kept quiet about the issue.

Investigation into Sexual Violence

  • Israeli authorities have opened an investigation into sexual violence during the most deadly attack on Israel in its history, including rape, after evidence emerged pointing to sexual crimes, such as victims found disrobed and mutilated.

Denial by Hamas

Hamas denies the abuses.

UN’s Response

  • The U.N. human rights office said it has condemned the Oct. 7 attacks as “heinous, brutal and shocking” and that Israel has so far not granted its monitors access to the country.

Israel-Organized Event

The private event, attended by diplomats, rights groups, and U.N. agencies, is the first Israel-organized event outside the country to address acts of sexual violence by Hamas, which Israel’s diplomatic mission described as “widespread”.

Downplaying of Sexual Violence by UN Rights Bodies

Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, an Associate Professor at Bar-Ilan University, stated that U.N. rights bodies “downplayed” and “minimized” the sexual violence.

Meeting with U.N. Human Rights Chief

Halperin-Kaddari, formerly Vice-President at the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), is meeting U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk to convey the message, supply new evidence, and request a strong condemnation of the attacks.

Lack of Cooperation with UN Inquiry

  • A U.N. rights office spokesperson said that Israel has not cooperated with the independent commission of inquiry set up by the U.N. Human Rights Council to investigate the Oct. 7 attacks.

Evidence of Sexual Violence

  • Evidence about sexual violence includes testimonies by first responders and military reservists who tended to the bodies in the identification process.

Call for Independent Investigation

Halperin-Kaddari called for independent bodies to investigate the crimes.

Conclusion

Israel seeks recognition of the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas at the U.N. meeting and calls for accountability and condemnation of the attacks.

 

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