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sexual violence

Freed hostage Ilana Gritzewsky speaks at a session of the UN Human Rights Council on June 23, 2026. (Screenshot)
June 23, 2026, 8:47 pm
Ex-hostage to UN official who doubted Oct. 7 rape: ‘I am living proof’ of Hamas sexual violence
At rights council, Ilana Gritzewsky addresses UN special rapporteur on violence against women, who falsely claimed no independent probes have found proof of rape during onslaught
By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Screenshot of the recorded testimony of Darin Komarov, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre to the Civil Service Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. (Courtesy, Civil Commission)
May 12, 2026, 8:37 am
Sexual violence was ‘systematic, integral’ to Hamas-led October 7 terror assault, study finds
Rape, sexual torture, mutilation and postmortem sexual abuse found to have been used to ‘terrorize’ Israeli society, with images of the atrocities ‘weaponized’ through social media
By Jeremy Sharon
Former Palestinian Islamic Jihad hostage Sasha Troufanov speaks with the BBC, in an interview aired on January 29, 2026. (BBC screenshot)
January 30, 2026, 4:46 am
Freed captive Sasha Troufanov reveals sexual harassment during Gaza captivity
In BBC interview, ex-hostage recalls being captured by terrorists on Oct. 7 and shot in the legs while trying to flee, says Palestinian civilians beat him after he was abducted into Gaza
By ToI Staff
Demonstrators gather during a protest decrying sexual violence against women in the October 7 massacre, outside of United Nations headquarters in New York City, on December 4, 2023. (Yakov Binyamin/Flash90)
November 15, 2025, 2:00 pm
UN official for violence against women falsely claims no independent probe found Oct. 7 rape
Reem Alsalem’s remarks contradict 2024 UN report which found ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe sexual violence took place in Hamas-led attacks, and even more against hostages in Gaza
By Luke Tress and ToI Staff
Rom Braslavski on his way back to Israel after two years in captivity in Gaza, October 13, 2025. (Government Press Office)
November 6, 2025, 8:24 am
‘I was torn apart, dying’: Rom Braslavski says captors sexually assaulted, tortured him
‘It was sexual violence, and its main purpose was to humiliate me,’ ex-hostage says. ‘I’d say to myself: ‘I survived another day in hell. Tomorrow I’ll wake up to another hell”
By ToI Staff
Blindfolded Palestinians captured in the Gaza Strip in a detention facility on the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel, winter 2023. (Breaking The Silence via AP)
August 13, 2025, 10:36 am
UN chief warns Israel it may be put on sexual violence blacklist; in 1st, Hamas on list
In letter to Israeli envoy Danny Danon, Antonio Guterres cites ‘grave concern’ over sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees in prisons; Danon calls idea ‘unfounded’ and ‘absurd’
By Nava Freiberg
Released hostage Ilana Gritzewsky speaks at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, April 19, 2025. (Alon Gilboa/Hostages and Missing Families Forum)
July 14, 2025, 5:15 pm
Ex-hostage Ilana Gritzewsky says ‘political cowardice’ endangers captives
Recounting ‘hellish’ abuse and degradation she endured, released hostage tells Knesset committee she was made to be ‘property’ in Gaza, urges an end to the war
By Ben Sales
Israel's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Daniel Meron, addresses reporters at the UN offices in Geneva on March 10, 2025. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
July 10, 2025, 5:38 am
Israel urges UN to act on report detailing how Hamas used sexual violence on Oct. 7
Decrying lack of action, Israeli envoy says United Nations ‘took far too long to even acknowledge that such violence took place,’ says findings should be taken up to ‘highest level’
By Agencies and ToI Staff
The authors of the Dinah Project's report on sexual violence on and since October 7 are pictured with First Lady Michal Herzog (center) at the President's Residence, Jerusalem, July 8, 2025. (Itzik Biran)
July 8, 2025, 2:23 pm
Rape as weapon of war: Report lays groundwork for prosecuting Oct 7. sexual violence
Dinah Project findings confirm Hamas systematically weaponized sexual assault as part of a broader campaign to terrorize, humiliate and dehumanize Israelis
By Ariela Karmel
Captivity survivor Dafna Elyakim speaks at the Civil Advocacy Center's TEEN SPIRIT conference, on May 6, 2025. (Screenshot, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
May 6, 2025, 11:07 pm
Teen ex-hostage says Hamas captor would touch her, tell her he wanted to marry her
Dafna Elyakim opens up about sexual abuse she endured during captivity, says terrorist guard would threaten to keep her behind in Gaza after everyone else was released
By ToI Staff
Former hostage Mia Schem during an interview on Channel 12 news, May 3, 2025. (Channel 12 screenshot)
May 4, 2025, 1:33 am
Ex-hostage recalls ‘flashes’ from alleged rape by trainer who she says drugged her
In 1st interview since going public as plaintiff in case against well-known influencer, Mia Schem says suspect convinced her to host meeting by saying Hollywood producer would attend
By ToI Staff
Navi Pillay, chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, presents a report on the opening day of the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva on June 13, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
March 13, 2025, 5:12 pm
‘Blood libel’: Israel slams UN report claiming it committed ‘genocidal acts’ in Gaza
Israeli officials, women’s groups accuse UN panel of bias and antisemitism for alleging Israeli forces ‘intentionally destroyed’ fertility center and perpetrated sexual violence
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Pop singer Moshiko Mor at a court hearing after being indicted for rape at the Lod District Court, January 14, 2025. (Screenshot from X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
January 14, 2025, 3:03 pm
Israeli pop singer Moshiko Mor indicted in court for rape, sodomy
Musician was arrested earlier this month for allegedly raping a 30-year-old woman at his Rishon Lezion apartment in late December; he insists encounter was consensual
By ToI Staff
Freed captive Amit Soussana speaks at the United Nations Security Council's ceremony marking 15 years since the establishment of the Mandate on Sexual Violence in Conflict, at the UN in New York, October 23, 2024. (Screen capture: X/Bring Them Home Now, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
October 24, 2024, 2:50 pm
Ex-hostage tells UN she was sexually assaulted by Hamas guard ‘in most horrifying way’
Amit Soussana assails ‘overwhelming silence, even denial’ of atrocities in speech to Security Council; Mia Schem: Captor ‘constantly reminded me he saw me without underwear’
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: A woman walks past an informational mural against gender-based violence, on a street in Nairobi, Kenya, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
October 10, 2024, 8:23 am
One in 8 girls and women raped or sexually assaulted before age 18, UNICEF says
UN children’s agency report, based on 12 years of stats from 120 countries, also finds 1 in 11 men and boys affected, calls it ‘a stain on our moral conscience’
By Reuters
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