"Abhorrent sexual violence was an integral part of the attack" launched by Hamas on October 7.
In sexual violence, carried out even in locations distant from each other, "systematicity and evident intentionality" typical of this type of aggression in conflict areas were detected.
These are some of the conclusions of a 35-page report presented by the 'Israeli Association of Rape Crisis Centers' - the assistance association for victims of sexual attacks (1202.org.il) - based on extensive documentation that includes testimonies, interviews and other kinds of material analyzed by researchers Carmit Keller Halamish and Noga Berger.
The report is entitled: 'A silent scream', in memory of the many victims who, after being raped and tortured, were then suppressed by their executioners so that they would remain silent forever.
On the cover page - and in the interviews given to the media - the editors warn that due to the crudeness of the "graphic descriptions of sexual violence and torture" this text may hurt the feelings of those who are preparing to consult it.
On October 7 - the report specifies - 1,200 Israelis and foreigners (mostly civilians) were killed and another 254 were taken hostage.
Even some of the hostages - adds the document - were then subjected to sexual violence in Gaza.
"It is possible that such violence will continue even now as we write, in February 2024", note the curators who say they are disappointed by the wall of skepticism created abroad about those episodes.
The report intends to ''lay a basis of documentation on a large number of crimes''.
This month it has already been delivered to Pramila Patten, special representative of the United Nations Secretary General for sexual violence in conflicts, during her mission to Israel.
The authors found that episodes of sexual violence occurred in all the areas where Hamas men operated: in the musical party in an open area near the border, in the kibbutzim, in military bases, in peripheral towns of the Negev and also among the hostages.
Often these kinds of attacks were carried out collectively.
Other times family members were forced to see the "sadistic abuse" of a sexual nature up close, up to the killing of the victim.
The sexual attacks did not even spare ''males and children''.
The text mentions systematic impairments of the sexual organs, male and female, also through the use of weapons.
The drafting of the text - which is currently available in Hebrew and English, and which in the future will be translated into other languages so as to have maximum diffusion - was complex because part of the testimonies collected from the victims still cannot be disclosed in full, in order not to cause them further harm.
"World experience - they explain - demonstrates in fact that in cases of sexual violence in conflict situations, their exposure requires prolonged times. And this processing process cannot be accelerated".
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