Jerusalem: A report released on Tuesday has provided detailed evidence that Hamas used sexualized violence as a ‘tactical weapon of war’ during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and such violence continued against hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
According to Ghana News Agency, the report by the Dinah Project, which involves Israeli legal and gender experts, is based on testimonies from survivors of the massacre and hostage-taking, as well as examinations of the deceased.
The research unveiled disturbing patterns in the perpetration of sexualized violence, with victims found partially or completely naked, their hands tied to trees or poles. The report also cites evidence of gang rape followed by execution, genital mutilation, and public humiliation. This follows a previous report by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) almost a year and a half ago, which had addressed the extent of sexualized violence during the massacre.
The Dinah Project’s findings indicate that sexualized violence persisted after October 7 in the hostage situation in the Gaza Strip. Despite consistent denials by Hamas of systematic sexualized violence, female hostages who were released have recounted experiences of sexual assaults, physical and verbal sexual harassment, forced nudity, and threats of forced marriages. Fifteen former hostages shared their harrowing experiences with the Dinah Project team during their captivity.
Ilana Gritzewsky, one of the former hostages, shared her traumatic experience during the report’s presentation. After being held hostage for 55 days, she recounted, “I remember hands that weren’t mine touching me. I remember screaming, then darkness. When I woke up, I was half-naked, surrounded by terrorists. They beat me. They touched me. I didn’t know what had happened to my body during those lost minutes, but my soul already knew: nothing would ever be the same.”