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Israel-Gaza war
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UN asks Israel for access to investigate claims of sexual violence by Hamas during October 7 attack, but get no response

  • Volker Turk, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights said he had repeatedly asked Israel for access to investigate the claims, with no response
  • The UN has face criticism over its lacklustre response to the alleged rapes and other sexual violence committed during Hamas’s attack inside Israel on October 7

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Signs against what protesters describe as silence over sexual violence perpetrated against Israeli women during the attack by Hamas on October 7. Photo: Reuters
Agence France-Presse

The UN rights chief voiced deep concern on Wednesday over allegations of sexual violence by Hamas militants during their October 7 attack, calling on Israel to allow his team in to investigate.

“These are very, very serious allegations and they need to be investigated, they need to be properly documented,” Volker Turk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, told a press conference.

“Justice must be served for the victims,” he said, stressing that he had repeatedly asked Israel for access to investigate the claims, with no response.

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Turk’s comments came amid mounting criticism of the UN over its lacklustre response to the alleged rapes and other sexual violence committed during Hamas’s unprecedented attack inside Israel on October 7.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says the world body has asked Israel for access to investigate the claims, with no response. Photo: AFP
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk says the world body has asked Israel for access to investigate the claims, with no response. Photo: AFP

Even before forensic examinations began, an abundance of images pointed to the gruesome nature of the attacks, with pictures shared online and live footage streamed by the militants as they killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to an Israeli count.

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