URGENT UPDATE: Israel has confirmed that around 50 percent of the living hostages returned from Gaza have reported experiencing sexual abuse during their captivity. This shocking revelation underscores the harrowing conditions faced by these individuals.
In an official statement on X, Israel’s government reported, “About 50 percent of the hostages endured significant sexual assault.” The statement further elaborated that if scenarios like being watched naked while bathing or being forced to undress in front of captors are included, the percentage of victims is even higher.
The traumatic accounts include allegations of sexual coercion, gang rape, and extreme humiliation. Last week, former hostage Aviva Siegel recounted her experiences before the UN Committee Against Torture, detailing a horrific incident involving a young girl.
“I witnessed one girl being told by a Hamas terrorist to undress in the shower, forced to perform oral sex, and then instructed to smile afterward,” Siegel stated. She described the profound impact of this abuse, particularly on vulnerable victims. “One of the girls, only 16 years old, had never shown her body to anyone before,” she added, emphasizing the psychological trauma inflicted by the captors.
Siegel further recounted another instance where a young girl returned from the bathroom visibly shaken after being assaulted. “She was terrified, fearing for her life if she spoke out about what had happened,” Siegel said. These testimonies paint a grim picture of the ongoing violence and violations faced by hostages.
These developments come amid growing controversy surrounding the statements made by Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, who faced backlash for denying any reports of rape during the October 7 attacks. In her remarks posted on X, she stated, “No Palestinian cheered for rape in Gaza. No independent investigation has found that rape occurred on October 7.” This assertion elicited outrage from Israeli officials, including Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, who called for her removal, labeling her comments a “moral disgrace.”
Danon emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Any UN representative who denies rape by Hamas must be removed from her position. Period. This is a stain on the UN’s reputation.” His remarks highlight the increasing tensions surrounding the narrative of violence and abuse in the ongoing conflict.
Adding to the complexity, a 2024 report by Pramila Patten, the UN’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict, indicated “reasonable grounds” to believe sexual violence occurred, despite not finding conclusive proof of rape. The report highlighted circumstantial evidence, including victims’ bodies discovered in compromising positions, raising serious concerns about the treatment of women and girls during these attacks.
As these harrowing accounts continue to emerge, the international community is urged to take immediate action to address the human rights violations reported by the hostages. The public outcry and the demand for accountability are expected to grow, as more individuals learn about the scale of the atrocities committed.
What happens next remains to be seen, but the spotlight is firmly on the UN and international organizations to investigate these claims thoroughly. The urgency of these developments cannot be overstated, as the plight of the hostages and the broader implications of these revelations continue to unfold.
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