Oct. 7 Massacre in Israel marked by extreme sexual violence, rapes by Hamas terrorists
On October 7, a group of Hamas terrorists committed acts of extreme sexual violence and rape in southern Israel. They quickly shared videos on social media, showing groups of cheering Palestinian men in Gaza crowding around half-naked and bloodied young Israeli women. Shani Louk, 22, and Na’ama Levy, 19, were among the victims, both of whom were either murdered or kidnapped along with others during the attack. The Israeli police and Israel’s Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas Against Women believe that the sexual violence was widespread, systematic and endorsed by the Islamic fundamentalist group’s religious and spiritual leaders.
David Katz, head of the Israeli police’s Lahav 443 criminal investigation’s cyber unit, described how the crime scene was an active combat zone for 48 hours, making it challenging for investigators and forensic teams to collect evidence. Investigators are working to document the horrific cases of sexual violence against those who did not survive and are still in pursuit of details for “multiple” cases of sexual violence.
One witness described a gang rape account at the Nova Music Festival, where numerous people were brutally murdered and injured. The witness recounted how she saw terrorists raping a woman and one person even shot her in the head while he was still penetrating her. She further described terrorists slicing off a woman’s breast, playing around with it, and then shooting her in the head.
Videotaped interrogations of captured terrorists show them confessing that they had orders to murder, rape, and kidnap Israeli civilians. First responders and military personnel also reported finding the bodies of women who had been stripped naked and other disturbing brutalities consistent with rape and sexual assault.
The investigation into the sexual-based crimes committed on October 7 is still in the initial phases as authorities work to collect witness statements while being faced with court-authorized gag orders. Given the scope and brutality of the attacks, this is said to be the biggest criminal case in Israel’s history. Yet, the surviving victims are still not able to share their stories due to the trauma they had endured.