The Dinah Project, an Israeli advocacy group, alleges that Hamas employed sexual violence as a weapon during its assault on October 7, 2023. Their report, based on survivor testimonies and forensic evidence, seeks to lay out a legal framework for prosecuting these human rights abuses and emphasizes the need for accountability.
Israeli Experts Accuse Hamas of Systematic Sexual Violence in October 2023 Attacks

Israeli Experts Accuse Hamas of Systematic Sexual Violence in October 2023 Attacks
A report claims Hamas utilized sexual violence as part of a genocidal strategy during the October 7 attacks on Israel, prompting calls for justice.
Hamas used sexual violence as "part of a deliberate genocidal strategy" during the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, an all-women group of Israeli legal and gender experts allege in a new report calling for justice. The Dinah Project claims that its findings are grounded in a comprehensive review of evidence, including first-hand testimony from a survivor of an attempted rape and 15 former hostages held in Gaza, as well as accounts from witnesses of sexual assaults. The report lays out what the group describes as "a legal blueprint for prosecuting these crimes, even when direct attribution to individual perpetrators is difficult."
Hamas has categorically denied any misconduct involving sexual violence against women or mistreatment of female hostages. Nonetheless, a UN mission concluded in March 2024 that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the October 7 attacks at various locations, including incidents of rape and gang rape, along with credible reports of hostages enduring sexual violence.
Additionally, before they were killed by Israeli forces, three prominent Hamas leaders faced accusations from the International Criminal Court's prosecutor regarding crimes against humanity, which included rape, torture, and murder. On 7 October, hundreds of Hamas and allied armed groups launched a coordinated assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 others.
Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence.
The Dinah Project was established in the aftermath of the October attacks to seek justice for victims of sexual violence; it was founded by legal scholar Ruth Halperin-Kaddar, former military prosecutor Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas, and ex-judge and deputy attorney general Nava Ben-Or. The organization states that its report, released on Tuesday, “demonstrates that Hamas wielded sexual violence as a tactical weapon, part of a genocidal scheme intended to terrify and dehumanize Israeli society.” The document also proposes routes to justice for victims of the October 7 assault and potentially for other victims of conflict around the world.
The authors indicate that their findings stem from analyzing multiple sources, including social media, recorded testimonies, forensic data, and visual and audio materials. Although the report does not name victims directly, it references cases that do identify some individuals. Notably, it recounts testimonies from a female survivor of the Nova music festival who reported an attempted rape and sexual assault. Another former hostage described being forced into sexual acts, preceded by abuse and harassment, with other detainees sharing similar narratives of forced nudity and verbal assaults.
Almost every hostage recounted experiences of harassment and unwanted physical contact, with additional threats of forced marriage reported by several individuals. The report highlights that witnesses reported incidents of sexual violence, indicating widespread and systematic abuse on October 7. Testimonies documented multiple cases of gang rape, severe sexual assaults, and mutilation, occurring both at public venues and during captivity in Gaza.
Emergency responders also corroborated the prevalence of sexual violence, noting numerous cases across various locations impacted by the attacks. The report mentions that many victims were silenced permanently, either through death on October 7 or by enduring severe trauma that rendered them unable to speak out about their experiences.
In conclusion, the authors present the "first global legal blueprint" detailing how to prosecute sexual violence utilized as a weapon of war, even amid chaotic circumstances, where individual accountability is complex. The report advocates for justice, emphasizing the need to uphold international legal principles and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for acts of sexual violence in armed conflicts, thereby sending a clear message that such atrocities will not go unpunished.