Israel/Palestine: UN Representative Advocates Ceasefire to Fight Sexual Violence | United Nations

Remarks from Pramila Patten, SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict Remarks, on recent visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Following her visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank, Pramila Patten, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict said, “Continuing this war will not serve to protect hostages from the risk of further sexual violence. And I think on the contrary, for the sake of the hostages, a ceasefire should be a priority.”

Addressing the press today (4 Mar) in New York, Patten reported that she and a team of experts had found “clear and convincing information” of rape, and sexualized torture being committed against hostages seized during the 7 October terror attacks.

She added that there are also reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be continuing against those still being held by Hamas and other extremists in the Gaza Strip.

The report from her Office, arose from an official visit to Israel at the invitation of the Government, which included a visit to the occupied West Bank, between 29 January and 14 February.

In the context of the coordinated attack by Hamas and others of 7 October, the UN mission team found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations, including rape and gang rape in at least three locations in southern Israel.

In some locations, the mission said it could not verify reported incidents of rape.

According to Patten, the true extent of sexual violence committed during the 7 October attacks and their aftermath, could “take months or years to emerge and may never be fully known.”

During the mission– which was not investigative in nature – the team conducted 33 meetings with Israeli representatives, examining more than 5,000 photographic images and 50 hours of video footage, and had 34 confidential interviews including with survivors and witnesses of the 7 October attacks, released hostages, first responders and others.

The team also visited the occupied West Bank, where Patten heard concerns raised over “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Palestinians, men and women, in detention,” including “sexual violence in the form of invasive body searches, threats of rape and prolonged forced nudity.”

The Special Representative echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire.

She said, “This finding does not in any way legitimize further violence, but actually reinforces the need for an urgent ceasefire, as continuing this war will not serve to protect hostages from the risk of further sexual violence. And I think on the contrary, for the sake of the hostages, a ceasefire should be a priority.”

Photo credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten
UN Photo/Mark Garten
UN Photo/Mark Garten
UN Photo/Mark Garten