A view shows a destroyed home riddled with bullets, following the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, southern Israel November 2, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
GENEVA, Nov 28 (Reuters) – Israel held a meeting at the U.N. in Geneva late on Monday to raise awareness of sexual violence against women perpetrated during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks amid criticism that the global body has kept quiet about the issue.
Israeli authorities have opened an investigation into sexual violence during the most deadly attack on Israel in its history, including rape, after evidence emerged pointing to sexual crimes, such as victims found disrobed and mutilated.
Hamas denies the abuses.
The U.N. human rights office said it has condemned the Oct. 7 attacks as “heinous, brutal and shocking” and that Israel has so far not granted its monitors access to the country.
The private event, attended by diplomats, rights groups and U.N. agencies, is the first Israel-organised event outside the country to address acts of sexual violence by Hamas, which Israel’s diplomatic mission described as “widespread”.
U.N. rights bodies “downplayed”…
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