Israel welcomes the UN's final recognition that Hamas committed sexual crimes on 7 October in the major report published by the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten.
This was stated by the spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Lior Haiat.
"For the first time a United Nations official has explicitly acknowledged the sexual crimes committed by Hamas and other terrorist organizations on October 7," he said.
The spokesperson stated that "the UN also recognizes that crimes were committed simultaneously in different locations, highlighting a series of rapes, torture and sexual abuse" and "acknowledges the existence of ongoing sexual crimes against Israeli women and men held hostage". from Hamas to Gaza and calls for the immediate release of the hostages."
At the same time, Israel rejects the report's call to investigate Palestinian allegations of "sexual violence by Israeli elements": "This is a mocking Palestinian ploy deliberately designed to create an intolerable equivalence between the horrific crimes committed, and which continue to be committed. , by Hamas and harmful and unfounded statements against Israel and Israelis."
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