Israel has denied the United Nations permission to investigate claims of sexual violence allegedly committed by Hamas during the October 7 attack, citing concerns that such a probe might also involve investigating allegations against Israeli forces in detention centres.
Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, sought access to investigate the claims against Hamas but insisted that any investigation must include reports of sexual violence in Israeli facilities.
According to Haaretz, Israel rejected this condition and declined to grant the necessary authorisation. Patten has urged Israel to adopt a framework agreement with the UN to strengthen measures against sexual violence in conflict settings. Despite the refusal, her office plans to pursue a future mission to the region, following invitations from both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government.
Patten’s office warned that Israel’s refusal to cooperate could damage its international reputation and risk its inclusion on the UN’s blacklist of entities responsible for conflict-related sexual violence. Representatives from Israel’s Women’s Network, who met with Patten’s team in New York, were cautioned that this outcome might exclude Hamas from the same list.
This controversy follows Israeli authorities’ admission that no reports of rape or sexual assault were filed during the October 7 attack, despite ongoing investigations. Earlier UN investigations, such as a March 2023 inquiry, similarly found that several sensational claims, including allegations of atrocities like beheadings, were unverified or false but continued to circulate in public discourse.
