To evade own crimes, 'Israel' blocks UN October 7 sexual assault probe
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Israeli occupation forces are denying a UN request to investigate October 7 sexual assault allegations out of fear that it could open the door to an inquiry into the abuse of Palestinians.
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Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman military base, as settlers protest in support of soldiers being questioned for detainee abuse, on July 29, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli occupation has rejected a request from the United Nations to investigate allegations of sexual violence allegedly committed by Resistance fighters during October 7's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
The Israeli regime is concerned that the UN probe would not only prove the claims as false but would also make way for proving the allegations of sexual violence perpetrated against Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities. These claims have been corroborated by the release of footage showing a group of Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee in the Sde Teiman detention camp.
Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, had sought authorization to investigate claims against Hamas. However, she emphasized that any investigation would also need to address allegations involving Israeli soldiers. The Israeli occupation declined this condition, according to a report by Haaretz.
Patten has urged the Israeli regime to sign a framework agreement with the UN to implement measures addressing sexual violence in conflict. Despite the refusal, her office has announced plans to explore a future mission to the region.
Israeli sexual assault of Palestinian detainees
“The Office is exploring a future mission to the region after receiving an invitation from the Palestinian Authority regarding reports of conflict-related sexual violence against Palestinians as well as outreach by the Government of Israel for a follow-up visit on the 7 October attacks and their aftermath,” Patten's office stated.
However, her team warned Israeli representatives that their refusal to allow investigations into reported crimes attributed to Israeli personnel could have serious consequences. During a meeting with Israel's Women’s Network in New York, they noted that this stance might result in the occupation being added to the UN’s blacklist of entities responsible for sexual violence in conflict—potentially leaving Hamas off the list.
This development follows statements from Israeli authorities that no allegations of rape or sexual assault had been filed in connection with the events of October 7. Moran Gaz, a former lead prosecutor in the Israeli Southern District and a member of Team 7.10, revealed in an interview for Ynet that extensive investigations had found no basis for such claims.
The controversy echoes similar incidents from March 2023 when UN experts discredited allegations of sexual violence by Resistance fighters, deeming them unverified or outright false. Other widely circulated claims of atrocities, including reports of babies being beheaded or burned, were also debunked but continued to be used as fuel to the fire of anti-Palestinian sentiment.
Read next: Israeli prosecutor confirms no rape charges from Oct.7 operation filed
UN urges for a probe into Israeli violations
The United Nations called in August for a comprehensive investigation into human rights abuses against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons following leaked footage of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner from Gaza at the notorious Israeli concentration camp Sde Teiman.
Farhan Haq, the UN deputy spokesperson, emphasized the need for a detailed probe into reports of systemic torture and degrading treatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli authorities.
This call for investigation follows a report from the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, which revealed troubling testimonies from 55 former Palestinian detainees. The report described "inhuman conditions" and detailed that over a dozen Israeli prison facilities are functioning as "de facto torture camps."
The UN official emphasized during a press conference that the UN's call for an investigation was in response to the B'Tselem report, stating that "all of these allegations of violations of basic human rights norms must be thoroughly investigated, and there should be accountability."
"We also believe that whenever human rights norms are violated to this extent, there needs to be follow-up. Our human rights colleagues dealing with Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory will continue to follow up on all of these allegations," Haq stressed.
Israeli Channel 12 broadcast surveillance footage of a squad of IOF selecting a detainee from among more than 30 others who are all blindfolded and lying on the ground. The inmate is then led to a corner.
According to the report, "It is clear that they know about the surveillance cameras, and try to hide their act with shields. The video contains documentation of the felony of the reservists: the act of sodomy in these circumstances."
The inmate then bled and was transferred to the hospital some hours later, with his condition described as "complex". "The injury was caused by the insertion of an object," the station stated, citing a medical report.
