(Geneva) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, reported “very serious accusations” of sexual violence committed by Hamas members during the October 7 attack, and asked Israel to allow its services to investigate.
“There are very, very serious accusations and we must investigate them, we must properly document” the facts, he declared Wednesday during a press conference in Geneva.
“We take these accusations very seriously,” he said, but “we must examine precisely whether this is a premeditated, widespread and systematic act.” “I am not in a position to confirm it,” he also said.
He stressed that for weeks he had “asked the Israeli authorities […] to deploy a team, my team, to monitor, document, investigate matters relating to the horrific attacks against Israelis.” “I have reiterated this appeal and I hope it will be heard, but so far I have received no response.”
Although it is easier to investigate on the ground, Mr. Türk assured that he would nevertheless find “other ways to talk to anyone we need to do it with”.
“Atrocious forms of sexual violence must be thoroughly investigated and we must ensure justice is served. This is what we owe to the victims,” noted the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Mr. Türk’s statements come amid growing criticism of the UN for its lack of responsiveness to rapes and other sexual violence allegedly committed during the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement. in Israel, October 7.
Even before forensic examinations began, an abundance of footage testified to the horrific nature of the attacks, with photos shared online and footage broadcast live by militants on the day they killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel vowed to destroy the group by carrying out bombings and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 16,200 people, mostly women and children, according to Hamas.
“Unfounded lies”
He categorically rejected accusations of rape and sexual violence during the October 7 attacks, calling them “unfounded lies”.
For their part, the Israeli police claim to have noted evidence of sexual violence, including presumptions of gang rape and post-mortem mutilation. Last week, a police official said they had collected “more than 1,500 shocking and harsh testimonies” so far.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly accused the Palestinian group of such acts, said Tuesday that during a meeting with hostages released by Hamas, he had heard of “cases of sexual assault and cruel rapes.”
Anger over the alleged acts has continued to grow, and US President Joe Biden this week called on governments and international organizations to “strongly and unequivocally condemn the sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists.”
Activists said the UN’s reactions were inadequate and accused the global human rights community of betrayal.
The United Nations began expressing stronger positions starting last week, including through statements from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Women agency.
Wednesday morning on X, Catherine Russell, director of the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF), described the accounts of sexual violence on October 7 as “horrible.”
“Survivors must be heard, supported and cared for. The allegations must be fully investigated. We condemn gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women and girls,” she added.
This reaction was late and insufficient, said the spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Lior Haiat, regretting that “it took almost two months for UNICEF to talk about the Israeli victims […] after an international campaign and pressure,” in a message to AFP.
He also deplored that Catherine Russell did not mention Hamas in her message on X: “This is another way of turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Hamas.” “By not mentioning Hamas, it legitimizes its activities,” he added.