US, UK, France heed Israel’s call to push for emergency UNSC session on Hamas Oct. 7 sex crimes

At Israel’s request, the United States, the United Kingdom and France have submitted an official request for an emergency UN Security Council session on special representative Pramila Patten’s report accusing Hamas of sexual crimes on October 7 and beyond, the Foreign Ministry says in a statement.

“I welcome all of the countries that backed our request to convene an emergency session of the Security Council,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz says, adding that the aim of the session will be to “discuss the grave findings and to issue an unequivocal call for the immediate release of all the hostages in Gaza.”

“This is a great victory for justice and morality and an important step on the way to bringing the hostages home,” he says.

Israeli officials have been pushing for UN chief Antonio Guterres to call the emergency session, though usually member states lodge these requests.

Israel is calling on the UN Security Council to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization and condemn its sexual atrocities on and since 10/7.

Anything else will tell the Hamas rapists: keep going. pic.twitter.com/JWiyqGce5m

— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) March 6, 2024

The United Nation’s envoy on sex crimes during conflict presented her team’s report at the UN earlier this week indicating that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the October 7 Hamas onslaught against southern Israel, that “clear and convincing” evidence shows that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza, and that those currently held captive are still facing such abuse.

The 24-page report, based on more than two weeks of meetings on the ground, states that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Hamas committed rape and sexual abuse during its murderous rampage on October 7, and that there is an even higher standard of evidence to indicate that hostages kidnapped by Hamas that day were subject to rape in captivity.

Amy Spiro contributed to this report.