'It was done for fun'

Key Points:

• A comprehensive investigation by an Israeli non-profit revealed extensive sexual violence and terror committed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, with survivors describing brutal rapes, mutilations, and executions.
• Witnesses recounted Hamas militants laughing and celebrating as they sexually assaulted men and women, often passing victims among themselves before killing them, with some victims mutilated and tortured using knives, tools, and firearms.
• Over 430 survivors were interviewed, and thousands of images analyzed, uncovering systematic sexual abuse, including forced incest, mutilation of genitalia, and extreme physical violence against women and men in locations such as the Nova festival, kibbutzim, and Gaza tunnels.
• Hostages held in Gaza endured ongoing sexual violence, with women threatened with forced marriages and men subjected to humiliations like forced nudity and shaving, while victims faced isolation and trauma without support.
• The report highlights the deliberate use of sexual terror as a weapon by Hamas, emphasizing the profound physical and psychological scars inflicted on survivors, many of whom continue to suffer deep emotional and physical trauma.