UN experts: 'Reasonable grounds to believe' sexual violence occurred during Oct. 7 Hamas raid

The United Nations special envoy for sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten and her team on Monday indicated that it had reason to suspect acts of sexual violence occurred during the Oct. 7 Hamas raid on Israel that kicked off the current hostilities.

Hamas forces, in that instance, stormed Israeli border towns and killed at least 1,200 civilians while taking roughly 200 hostages. The Israel Defense Forces have since invaded the Gaza Strip in a bid to oust Hamas from power.

The report stated that the U.N. team had "reasonable grounds to believe" acts of rape, gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence occurred during the raid, Reuters reported. The team also indicated it had received "[c]redible circumstantial information" pointing to possible sexual torture, genital mutilation, and other adverse treatment.

Also in the team's findings were "clear and convincing information" that some of Hamas's hostages had experienced similar acts while in the organization's custody. Notably, the U.N. stated that it been informed of alleged instances of sexual violence against Palestinians in Israeli custody, though Israeli agencies denied having received any complaints against IDF personnel.

Hamas and Israel have reportedly reached an agreement for a temporary ceasefire that would secure the release of some hostages in Hamas custody, though Hamas has not publicly accepted the arrangement. Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday called for an "immediate ceasefire" in the region.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.