“An Israeli commission's two-year investigation concludes Hamas systematically used sexual violence on 7 October and against hostages it held in Gaza”

“The report, titled "Silenced No More," was published Tuesday by the Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children, an independent panel established in the immediate aftermath of the attack.”

“The commission was founded and led by Cochav Elkayam-Levy, an attorney and international law expert who recently received the Israel Prize, Israel's highest civilian honour.”

“The roughly 290-page report draws on UN investigations, survivor testimonies, filmed footage and a war-evidence archive containing more than 10,000 photographs and videos amounting to more than 1,800 hours of visual material.”

“It includes more than 430 testimonies from survivors, witnesses, experts and relatives of hostages, and documents victims from 52 nationalities.”

“The report identifies 13 forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, gang rape, sexual torture, mutilation, forced stripping, executions linked to sexual violence, the filming and dissemination of assaults, and attacks against men and boys.”

“The International Criminal Court (ICC) had previously sought arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders over their alleged responsibility for war crimes including rape and sexual violence.”