Military Forensic Teams Uncover Evidence of Atrocities in Hamas Attack on Gaza Strip
RAMLA, Israel – Military forensic teams in Israel have made shocking discoveries while examining the bodies of victims of last week’s Hamas attack on communities surrounding the Gaza Strip. Officers revealed that multiple signs of torture, rape, and other atrocities have been found.
Around 1,300 bodies have been transported to an army base in Ramla, located in central Israel, where specialized teams carry out forensic checks to determine the identities of the deceased and the circumstances of their deaths.
Rabbi Israel Weiss, former army chief rabbi and one of the officials overseeing the identification process, stated that approximately 90% of the military dead have been identified, and the teams are halfway through identifying civilians. He further revealed that many of the bodies showed signs of both torture and rape.
“We’ve seen dismembered bodies with their arms and feet chopped off, people that were beheaded, a child that was beheaded,” reported Avigayil, a reserve warrant officer. She also stated that multiple cases of rape were found during the forensic examinations, with the bodies being stored in refrigerated containers.
The military personnel involved in the identification process did not provide any forensic evidence in the form of pictures or medical records.
Hamas, the Islamist movement controlling the Gaza Strip, has vehemently denied the accusations of abuse.
The assault unleashed by hundreds of Hamas gunmen, some on motorcycles, on October 7 shocked Israel due to both the unprecedented number of casualties from a single day and the graphic footage that emerged from the towns and kibbutzes that were overrun. The attackers targeted a large outdoor dance party, as well as homes and military bases, and abducted more than 120 Israelis and foreigners.
In response, Israeli jets and artillery have relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip for days, resulting in the deaths of over 2,200 Palestinians and the destruction of thousands of buildings. A ground invasion is also expected.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn comparisons between Hamas and Islamic State, citing the latter’s campaign of public beheadings in countries like Syria and Iraq.
This article was written by Peter Hirschberg and edited by Daniel Wallis.