Russia at UN tries to poke holes in report on Hamas-led sexual violence

Russia attempts to cast doubt on a UN report confirming allegations of sexual violence committed by Hamas-led terrorists on and after October 7.

Addressing a Security Council session on the report, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Maria Zabolotskaya says, “We are being presented with only partial information from the context of a specific mandate and being asked to respond to it.”

The Russian envoy also seeks to delegitimize the UN envoy who compiled the report over her alleged history of “using fakes” — a reference to Pramila Patten’s work exposing war crimes perpetrated by Russia against Ukraine.

“At the same time, the information in the report on rapes as well as the mission’s conclusions as to the likelihood of further sexual violence against the hostages is shocking. Sexual violence against Israelis has no justification. Those guilty must be held accountable,” Zabolotskaya says.

The Russian diplomat also highlights the UN envoy’s declaration in her report that she was unable to confirm Israeli press reports of brutal sexual violence in Kibbutz Be’eri and in the Nahal Oz military base.

Zabolotskaya blasts Israel over sections of the report highlighting sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli security forces against Palestinians in the form of threats of rape, strip searches, and beating of the genitals, which the UN and human rights groups say have been systematic for decades.