Weapon of War: Survivors Reveal Systematic Sexual Violence by Hamas During October 7 Attacks

Former hostages break their silence as Israeli and UN-backed reports confirm sexual violence was used intentionally by Hamas as a strategy of terror.

Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu/Getty Images

Tel Aviv — In a series of chilling testimonies released this week, survivors of Hamas captivity have described brutal acts of sexual violence committed during and after the October 7 attacks. The revelations coincide with the publication of a landmark Israeli report concluding that Hamas used rape and gender-based violence systematically — not as isolated acts of brutality, but as a calculated weapon of war.

The findings, released by a team of Israeli legal and forensic experts as part of the “Dinah Project,” have been echoed by independent investigations from the United Nations, raising urgent calls for international prosecution and reclassification of Hamas’ tactics as crimes against humanity.

Survivors Speak, Painfully and Publicly

Among those breaking their silence is attorney Ilana Gritzewsky, who was kidnapped during the October 7 incursion and taken into Gaza. She describes being repeatedly assaulted during the march into captivity.

Another hostage, Amit Soussana, gave a heart-wrenching account of being raped at gunpoint in a children’s bedroom by a Hamas guard identified only as “Muhammad.” Her testimony is backed by medical examinations conducted after her release.

Israeli medical teams confirm that at least ten released hostages, both women and men, were sexually assaulted while in captivity. Many reported being held naked, harassed, and abused as a means of humiliation and control.

“This wasn’t opportunistic violence,” said Dr. Yael Cohen, one of the forensic investigators involved in the Dinah Project. “It was tactical, premeditated, and part of a broader psychological operation to terrorize both the hostages and Israeli society at large.”

The Dinah Report: A Forensic Roadmap to Prosecution

The 200-page report, titled A Quest for Justice: October 7 and Beyond, outlines more than 15 distinct cases of sexual assault across key attack sites — including the Nova music festival, kibbutzim along the Gaza border, and the Nahal Oz military post.

The victims, many of whom were mutilated or executed after rape, were discovered in states suggesting organized mass violence: bodies burned, stripped, bound, or shot in the genitals. In some cases, video and audio evidence corroborate the attacks.

Presented to Israeli First Lady Michal Herzog earlier this week, the report is being positioned as a foundational document for legal action at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other international tribunals.

“Rape was not a side effect,” said legal expert Dr. Noa Sattath, who contributed to the report. “It was a strategy. And under international law, it constitutes a war crime and possibly genocide when used systematically.”

Global Momentum for Justice

In March 2024, the United Nations special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, confirmed that her team found “clear and convincing evidence” of sexual crimes committed on October 7 — including rape, torture, and sexual humiliation, some of which appear to continue against remaining hostages in Gaza.

The UN report supported the claim that Hamas combatants weaponized gender-based violence as a deliberate part of their military strategy. It urged immediate international cooperation to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

“What we are seeing is the intentional targeting of bodies — mostly women’s bodies — as battlegrounds,” said Patten in her address to the Security Council. “The silence must be broken with accountability.”

Trauma Without Closure

Many survivors have yet to come forward. Some remain missing. Others fear the stigma or psychological toll of recounting the atrocities. Forensic teams also note that many bodies were burned beyond recognition or remain inside Gaza, making evidence collection extraordinarily difficult.

Despite these challenges, experts say the Dinah Project — a collaboration between Israeli legal professionals, medical examiners, and international partners — offers a new model for documenting sexual violence in conflict zones, especially when traditional criminal investigations are impossible.

Will the World Act?

The Israeli government is now pressing international bodies to list Hamas' use of sexual violence as an organized terror strategy, not merely acts committed by rogue fighters. Advocates warn that inaction will set a dangerous precedent.

“If this kind of systematic abuse goes unanswered, it opens the door for others to follow,” said Maya Friedman, a human rights lawyer advising on the case. “Justice is not just about punishing the guilty — it’s about restoring dignity to the victims.”

As calls for accountability grow louder, so does the urgency to act. For the survivors, peace cannot begin until the truth is recognized — and those responsible are brought to justice.