[HIGHLIGHTS] October 7 attacks: the European Union sanctions Hamas for “sexual violence”

The European Union has sanctioned three entities involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel for “general sexual violence” Fighters from the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, the Nukhba unit of Hamas and the al/Qassam Brigades. The EU says abuses committed by Hamas fighters include "rape and murder of minors, mutilation of corpses and genital mutilation" Hamas and Islamic Jihad are already on the EU's list of “terrorist organisations” and have denied any assault or sexual violence on hostages or during terrorist attacks.

The decision to impose these sanctions is part of an agreement between EU countries also providing for sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, accused of violence against Palestinians. The three Palestinian entities were added to the European Union's human rights sanctions list, which affects 104 individuals and 26 organizations from different countries. The Association of Rape Support Centers in Israel (ARCCI) had already published a 39-page report to the UN on the sexual violence committed during the attacks.