The allegations of sexual violence against some of the hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attack could not be taken as a token for the indiscriminate bombardment on Palestinians," said Pramila Patten, the UN envoy focusing on sexual violence in conflict.
Though there may be 'clear and convincing information' regarding sexual violence by Hamas, Pramila Patten said it should not be interpreted as legitimizing further hostilities. Instead, she argued that it establishes a moral imperative for a humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and secure the immediate release of all hostages.
The recent report presented by Patten also pointed to "reasonable grounds" supporting claims that Hamas committed rape, sexualized torture, and other inhumane acts against women during the October 7 assault, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 others.
Israel's ongoing offensive against Hamas has claimed over 30,000 lives, with two-thirds of the casualties being women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, attended the Security Council meeting, protesting against what he referred to as "crimes against humanity" committed by Hamas. Katz criticized the Security Council's failure to condemn Hamas' actions and called for the designation of the extremist group as a terrorist organization.
Katz, in a surprising move, acknowledged the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, extending a blessing to Muslim brothers while emphasizing that Hamas does not represent the Muslim world. He urged the international community to condemn the sexual violence crimes committed by the group in the name of the Muslim religion.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, lamented the contrast between global celebrations of Ramadan and the grim reality in Gaza, where death and suffering prevail. Mansour accused Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of avoiding a ceasefire to further his political agenda, aiming to forcibly displace Palestinians by making Gaza unliveable.
Mansour expressed hope that the Security Council, which swiftly convened a meeting in response to Patten's report, would react equally to reports of sexual assault against Palestinians. He invited Patten to visit Gaza and witness firsthand the plight of the Palestinian people.
Patten's primary recommendation is for Israel to grant access to the UN human rights chief and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian territories and Israel. This access would enable a comprehensive investigation into the alleged violations by Hamas.
While Patten did not receive reports of rape during her visit to the West Bank, she did highlight instances of sexual violence against Palestinian men and women during detention, including invasive body searches, unwanted touching, beatings in genital areas, and threats of rape against detainees' family members.
Despite raising these concerns with Israeli authorities, Patten expressed disappointment at the immediate rejection of her report by some political actors through social media, without initiating inquiries into the alleged incidents.