Jerusalem said blocking UN investigation on Hamas sexual violence that also requires probe of Israel

Israel is reportely blocking the United Nations from launching an investigation into Hamas’s sexual violence during its October 7 onslaught because doing so would also require allowing the UN to probe alleged sex crimes committed Palestinians in Israeli detention.

The UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten already published a report last year on the sexual violence perpetrated during the October 7 attack, but said her mandate at the time wasn’t broad enough to allow for a determination on whether Hamas could be added to the UN’s blacklist of entities suspected of committing sexual crimes.

Patten has urged Israel to sign a framework agreement with her UN office, similar to the one Ukraine signed in 2022 that allowed for an investigation into sexual violence perpetrated by Russia, the Haaretz daily reports.

The agreement would also require Israel to grant the UN access to its detention facilities to probe allegations of sexual violence committed by Israeli security forces — a request Israel has denied, according to the report.

“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 says.

Haaretz cites unnamed sources who warn that Israel’s refusal to grant Patten’s office access to conduct her probe into Hamas’s October 7 sexual violence could backfire, as it could lead to Israel being added to the UN blacklist, while Hamas would be left off it.

In a statement to the newspaper, the Foreign Ministry doesn’t comment on whether it will allow Patten’s office to launch an investigation but does insist that it is working to coordinate a visit from the UN special representative.